Feasibility of Post-donation Iron Replacement for Whole Blood Donors

Female blood donors and young donors have a particularly high risk for iron deficiency, and randomized trials have shown that iron replacement is important for recurrent donors.  In order to assess the feasibility of iron-replacement for donors, researchers in Australia recruited female blood donors (18-45 years old) into two parallel replacement programs.  Just over 1400 female donors received iron replacement literature and were advised to purchase iron supplements in the READ (replacement advice) program; 768 female donors were directly provided with iron replacement literature and iron supplements in the DIRECT (donor iron replacement) program.  After donating, 75% of DIRECT donors were compliant in taking iron supplements compared to 25% of READ donors, and this compliancy was effective in reducing iron deficiency for DIRECT donors.  However, the cost and time to deliver iron supplements to donors must also be considered.

Reference:

            Pasricha SR, Marks DC, Salvin H, Brama T, Keller AJ, Pink J, Speedy J. Postdonation iron replacement for maintaining iron stores in female whole blood donors in routine donor practice: results of two feasibility studies in Australia. Transfusion 2017.