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Deferral policies for prospective platelet apheresis donors taking herbal supplements

A transfusion medicine physician in Ohio wonders if any facilities defer platelet apheresis donors who ingest primrose-containing herbal supplements? If so, for how long? Do colleagues defer platelet apheresis donations for ingestion of any other common herbal supplements? She reports that her donor collection service is currently struggling with this issue, because of reports like that of Paglieroni and colleagues, which conclude that platelet dysfunction in qualified blood donors is underestimated, and that platelet function screening can identify donors with diet-related platelet dysfunction or with poor recollection of aspirin use.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
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Posted: April 25, 2005

Addenda:

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