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What are the upper and lower hemoglobin/hematocrit levels used by blood collection centers to decide when to refer a donor for further medical evaluation?

A regional blood center in Texas uses 20 g/dL as an upper acceptable limit for routine allogeneic blood donation. If a donor's hemoglobin is > 20 g/dL or < 8 g/dL, the regional blood center physician discusses with the donor the need for follow-up with a personal physician. The blood center physician wants to know what other blood collection centers use to trigger a donor referral to their personal physician for abnormally high or low hemoglobin levels.

1. In response to the above question, a blood banker from Maryland comments that this issue was discussed at a recent meeting of regional medical directors in his community. The discussion focused on two issues:

  • concern over accepting donors likely to have a medical condition
  • concern that donated red cell products might be compromised, in the event that the product's red blood cell content was too high for the amount of preservative solution added to the unit.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
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Posted: October 24, 2002

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