Can inactive blood donors be re-recruited? A stratified randomised pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment of inactive donors by telephone call and cell phone short message service (SMS), to assess the causes of donor self-deferral and to determine the appropriate sample size for a formal study BACKGROUND: Blood donor retention is essential for sustaining blood safety and sufficiency. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre open-label parallel randomised controlled trial in Guangzhou, China. A total of 1188 inactive donors with the last donation between 2009 and 2013 were enrolled and randomly assigned to two intervention groups (telephone call and SMS groups) and one control group without any intervention. Donors were followed up for 7 months; their responses including donation activities were analysed. RESULTS: The re-donation rates among the three groups were statistically significantly different (P = 0.044), particularly between the phone call group and the control group (P = 0.017). Within the phone call group, the re-donation rate was positively associated with the frequency of prior donation (P = 0.026), and the age of the donors (P = 0.043). Medical issues, time constraints and group donation were the main causes of self-deferral. The appropriate sample size for each group for a formal study to detect difference between the phone call and SMS groups was estimated to be 1429 participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that active interventions, especially phone call reminders, can increase blood donation. Further studies are required to compare the efficacy and effectiveness between phone call and SMS reminders using a larger sample size.

Factors influencing blood donation: a cross-sectional survey in Guangzhou, China.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine major factors that influence blood donation in China. BACKGROUND: Factors affecting blood donation often vary in various populations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used self-administered, standardised, structured questionnaires to survey selected donors and non-donors in Guangzhou, China between 10 December 2013 and 25 June 2014. RESULTS: Among the 1080 questionnaires collected, 1034 (95·7%) questionnaires were valid for this analysis, including 602 donors and 432 non-donors. Results revealed that helping patients (n = 405, 68·2%) was the main objective of blood donation, and self-perception of poor health (n = 138, 33·1%) was the main reason for not donating. Responses to questions raised by donors and inquiring about a donor's physical condition were thought to be the most important blood donation routines (n = 302, 65·5%). For non-donors, 90·3% (n = 390) expressed their intention to donate blood in the future, and usage of blood (n = 182, 46·7%) was the most asked question. Prepaid cellular phone cards were the most popular incentives. Raising the awareness of blood donation was the most effective way of enhancing blood donation programmes, and television ads and the internet were the most effective means. CONCLUSION: Helping patients was the main objective of blood donation in China. However, self-perception of poor health was a major barrier to donating blood. Raising the awareness of blood donation in combination with multiple aspects of campaigns that target different populations with potential blood donors is critical. Television and the internet are the most effective tools for promotion of and recruitment for blood donation.

Blood donation in Guangdong Province, China, from 2006-2014.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the trends in blood collection from 2006 to 2014 in Guangdong, China. BACKGROUND: Although the Blood Donation Law of the People's Republic of China was implemented in 1998, voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) has been promoted fully for only a decade. The provincial and local governments of Guangdong, one of the most well-developed provinces in China, have promoted blood donation by various means. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Official data on blood donation from 2006 to 2014, including the number of blood donations and the family replacement/mutual blood donation (FRMBD) rate, were collected from all blood collection and supply institutions in Guangdong. These data were analysed to explore trends in blood donation in Guangdong Province, and to detect differences among the province's four regions. RESULTS: The number of blood donations in Guangdong increased by 38·23% from 2006 to 2014; overall, the rate increased annually, although it fluctuated in the eastern region. Family replacement/mutual whole blood and platelet donation rates decreased dramatically from 2006 to 2014 (from 39·99% to 20·16% and from 64·15% to 26·51%, respectively), but remained high. Marked disparities in blood donation development were detected among the four regions. DISCUSSIONS: With nearly a decade of efforts, blood donation in Guangdong has developed rapidly and sustainably. All blood collection and supply institutions must strengthen efforts to improve awareness of blood donation among the population, retain repeat and regular donors and reduce the rate of FRMBD in favor of the development of VNRBD.

Establishment of platelet donor registry improves the treatment of platelet transfusion refractoriness in Guangzhou region of China.

Platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is the major complication of long-term platelet supportive care. To improve the effectiveness of platelet transfusion therapy in PTR patients, we aimed to establish a platelet donor registry in our region (Guangzhou, China) by typing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and human platelet antigen (HPA). Blood donors (n = 864) from our population were genotyped for HLA-A, HLA-B and HPA systems by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primer(PCR-SSP) techniques. Using this cohort, we compared the results of platelet transfusions (matched vs. random) in 23 patients with PTR. Matched platelets were selected either by HLA antigen matching or by HLA antibody matching, as predicted by antibody specificity prediction (ASP) analysis. Significantly higher platelet recovery (PPR) values were obtained with HLA-matched platelets in comparison with random platelets. No significant difference in PPR was observed between HLA matching and ASP methods. In two patients, platelet-specific alloantibodies (alloabs) (anti-HPA-3b and anti-HPA-5b) were detected besides HLA class I alloabs. Transfusion with HLA- and HPA-compatible platelets in both the patients resulted in significantly higher PPR when compared with HLA-compatible platelet transfusion alone. In this study, we demonstrated that the establishment of an HLA- and HPA-typed platelet aphaeresis donor registry is useful to improve the treatment outcome of PTR patients and to maintain a long-term platelet transfusion strategy.