Demographics of apheresis platelet donors in five blood centers in China.

BACKGROUND: Blood component donations by apheresis has become more common in modern blood transfusion practices. However, apheresis donation still remains less common in China. This study describes the demographic profile and transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among donors making apheresis platelet (AP) donations compared to those making whole blood (WB) donations and the differences among five geographically diverse blood centers in China. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a descriptive study using data from all successful donations at the five blood centers in 2008 and 2009. Donor demographic and TTI screening reactive rates were collected for WB and AP donations and blood centers. Logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with AP donations. RESULTS: From January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009, there were 512,594 WB and 26,199 AP donations at five blood centers. AP donations accounted for 4.9% of all donations. AP donations have lower reactive rate than WB donations for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibodies, human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, and syphilis screening testing. Males, donors older than 25 years old, non-Han donors, and donors with below high school educational level were more likely to make AP donations. The characteristics of AP donations differed among the five Chinese blood centers. CONCLUSION: Our analysis suggests that the characteristics of AP donations in China are different from WB donations and differ among the five Chinese blood centers. Some of the differences are likely due to different recruitment policies. Further studies should be conducted to understand what motivates Chinese blood donors to participate as AP donors.

Analysis of Chinese donors' return behavior.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand donor return behavior. Converting first-time donors to become repeat donors is essential for maintaining an adequate blood supply. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Characteristics of 241,552 whole blood (WB) donations from first-time and repeat donors who donated in 2008 at the five blood centers in China were compared. A subset of 54,394 WB donors who donated between January 1 and March 31, 2008, were analyzed for their return behavior in 2008 after the index donation using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of all donations, 64% were from first-time donors. Donors with self-reported previous donations tended to be male, older, and married; donated larger volume (≥ 300 mL); and were heavier in weight. Among donors who donated from January to March 2008, 14% returned for subsequent WB donations by the end of 2008. The number of previous donations and blood collection location were the two strongest predictors for making subsequent donations. Donors with one, two to three, and more than three previous donations were 3.7, 5.7, and 11.0 times more likely to return than first-time donors. Those who donated in a blood collection vehicle were four times more likely to return than those who donated at a blood center. Being female, younger, and of a lower education level (middle school or less) were positively associated with subsequent return blood donation during the follow-up period observed in this study. CONCLUSION: Most of the Chinese blood supply is from first-time donors. Strategies aimed at encouraging current donors to become repeat donors are needed.

Impact of the May 12, 2008, Earthquake on blood donations across five Chinese blood centers.

BACKGROUND: On May 12, 2008, a severe earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province. The nationwide outpouring of charity resulted in a surge of subsequent blood donations. The quantity and quality of these donations were examined in comparison with routine donations. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Whole blood and apheresis donations from five geographically different blood centers collected within 1 week postearthquake were compared with those collected during the rest of the year. Regional differences, demographic characteristics, first-time and repeat donor status, and infectious disease screening markers associated with these donations were compared by earthquake status using chi-square statistics. Poisson regression analysis examined the number of daily donations by earthquake status after adjusting for center, day of week, and seasonal variations. RESULTS: The number of daily donations across five blood centers increased from 685 on a typical day to 1151 in the postearthquake week. The surge was observed in both sexes and across different education levels, age, and ethnicity groups and three blood centers and was significant after adjusting for confounding covariates. The influx of first-time donors (89.5%) was higher than that of repeat donors (34%). There was a significant change in the overall screening reactive marker rates excluding alanine aminotransferase (2.06% vs. 1.72%% vs. 4.96%). However, when the individual screening test was analyzed separately, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Timely donations in response to a disaster are crucial to ensure emergency blood transfusion. The dramatically increased postearthquake donations suggest that Chinese blood centers are capable of handling emergency blood needs. Measures to maintain blood safety should be taken in times of emergency.