Blood Donor Deferral: Rates, Patterns, and Causes in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute
Gajender Singh, Vaishali , Aashna Gupta, Simran Yadav, Anjali, Chanchal
Author(s)2Senior Resident, Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
3Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
4Junior Resident, Department of Pathology, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
Abstract
Background: Blood transfusion requires a safe and adequate donor pool. Donor deferral, though essential, reduces available blood supply. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at PGIMS, Rohtak (2023–2025). Data of all registered donors and pre-donation deferrals were analyzed as per DGHS guideline. Results: Out of 121,566 donors, 7,284 (5.99%) were deferred. Males constituted 97.03%, while females were 2.97%, with a higher deferral rate in females (49.07%) than males (4.68%). Most deferrals were temporary (94.45%). Anaemia (28.14%) was the most common temporary cause, while chronic hypertension (35.89%) was the leading permanent cause. Conclusion: The findings are comparable with other Indian studies, highlighting anaemia as the major cause of deferral. Most deferrals were temporary and preventable. Targeted interventions focusing on nutrition, awareness, and follow-up can improve donor retention and ensure an adequate blood supply.
Keywords: Rates, Patterns, and Causes in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute. Temporary defer, Permanent defer, Blood donor defer.