The Deferral Dilemma: Analysing why Whole Blood Donors are Turned Away at a Tertiary Care Blood Centre, New Delhi

Abstract

Background: Donor screening is essential for safety because it prevents adverse reactions through appropriate selection criteria. Recruitment can be hampered by donor deferrals, thus it's critical to understand and resolve the reasons behind them.

Aims: To Analyse the deferral pattern among whole blood donors at a tertiary care blood centre, New Delhi.

Settings and Design: This is a retrospective record-based study for a period of 3 years from September 2022 to August 2025 at immunohematology and blood transfusion department at ESI Medical college and Hospital, Delhi.

Methods and Material: Deferral data was collected by donor deferral register and monthly deferral report. Donors were deferred as per Drugs and Cosmetic Act of 1940 and the DGHS guidelines. Donors who were deferred were analysed according to age, sex, and reasons for deferral.

Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel, and data were expressed in numbers and percentages. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize donor demographics, deferral rates among males and females, and to assess the causes of temporary and permanent deferrals.

Results: A total number of 24335 potential blood donors were registered for blood donation, out of which 4467 donors were deferred. Overall deferral rate was 18.35%. The deferral rate among male and female was 16.78% and 63.04% respectively. Temporary and permanent deferrals accounted for 76.30% and 23.70% respectively.

Conclusions: Donor deferral is the critical step in the donor selection criteria. Temporary deferred donors may be recruited back to the donor pool through appropriate counselling and management.