title: A large national study of ferritin testing in Canadian blood donors.
abstract: We assessed risk groups for iron deficiency and the feasibility and efficacy of ferritin testing in a large blood center.
  
  
  
  Donors were informed of possible testing in the predonation pamphlet. Plasma ferritin was measured on retention samples (n = 12,595) from representative clinics. Low-ferritin donors (<25 µg/L) were sent a letter and information sheet and not called for 6 months. Ferritin testing was repeated on 25% of donors; donor return rate and frequency were monitored.
  
  
  
  Low-ferritin donors represented 2.9% of first-time and reactivated (no donation in past 12 months) male donors, 32.2% of first-time and reactivated female donors, 41.6% of repeat male donors, and 65.1% of repeat female donors. A mean of 11.7 months after index donation, the return rate was 76% for normal and 58% for low-ferritin donors; returning low-ferritin donors had made approximately one fewer donation. Ferritin increased by 16.3 and 12.1 µg/L in male and female low-ferritin donors and decreased by 17 µg/L in male and female normal-ferritin donors.
  
  
  
  The minimum hemoglobin level will be increased to 130 g/L for male donors and the minimum interdonation interval changed to 84 days (four donations yearly) for female donors based on iron deficiency risk groups. Large-scale ferritin testing was feasible. Donors informed of low-ferritin results had a lower return rate, donated less often, and had an increase in ferritin on return, approximately 1 year after initial testing, compared to donors with normal ferritin results.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mindy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Samra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzicanin
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Osmond
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scalia
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sheila F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D002170:Canada; D046148:Donor Selection; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins