Background: We aimed to conduct a retrospective study in order to statistically analyze the common causes for blood donor rejection in a tertiary care center at Indore according to the American Association of Blood Banks. The analysis of the pattern of deferral and interventions to bring back deferred donors when possible could be a strategy for long-term retention of motivated blood donors.

Subjects and Methods: A sample of 2492 rejected donors was randomly selected from a single blood bank between June 2016 to July 2019. The evaluation of blood donors was medical according to the personal history questionnaire and a medical examination done before the blood donation proceeded.

Results: The causes of deferral were categorized into three main categories: personal factors, examination and medical history. The most common personal cause of deferral was alcohol(7.5%); however, the most common medical examination cause of deferral was anaemia (36.3%)Concerning the medical history, the commonest cause was medication.(13.3%).

Conclusion: Anaemia (36.3%), medication (13.3%) and alcohol (7.5%); were the major causes of rejection in this study. Similarities and variations between the commonest causes of blood donor rejection may be due to the differences and similarities in the geographic area and in the cultural, educational and socioeconomic factors.

Keywords:  Donor questionnaire, blood transfusion, safe blood.

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Dr C.S. Chhatrasal

Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India