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. 2012 Jan;52(1):134-43.
doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03391.x. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

Transfusion safety in francophone African countries: an analysis of strategies for the medical selection of blood donors

Claude Tayou Tagny  1 , Maxime Diané Kouao, Hamane Touré, Jalel Gargouri, Ahamada Said Fazul, Siaka Ouattara, Ludovic Anani, Habiba Othmani, Lochina Feteke, Honorine Dahourou, Guy Olivier Mbensa, Simplice Molé, Yacouba Nébié, Madeleine Mbangue, Michel Toukam, Mahommed Ould Boulahi, Lalatiana Valisoa Andriambelo, Olivat Rakoto, Mounirou Baby, Rakia Yahaya, Amelia Bokilo, Florent Senyana, Dora Mbanya, Caroline Shiboski, Edward L Murphy, Jean Jacques Lefrère
Affiliations

Transfusion safety in francophone African countries: an analysis of strategies for the medical selection of blood donors

Claude Tayou Tagny et al. Transfusion. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The goal of selecting a healthy blood donor is to safeguard donors and reduce the risks of infections and immunologic complications for recipients.

Study design and methods: To evaluate the blood donor selection process, a survey was conducted in 28 blood transfusion centers located in 15 francophone African countries. Data collected included availability of blood products, risk factors for infection identified among blood donor candidates, the processing of the information collected before blood collection, the review process for the medical history of blood donor candidates, and deferral criteria for donor candidates.

Results: During the year 2009, participating transfusion centers identified 366,924 blood donor candidates. A mean of 13% (range, 0%-36%) of the donor candidates were excluded based solely on their medical status. The main risk factors for blood-borne infections were having multiple sex partners, sexual intercourse with occasional partners, and religious scarification. Most transfusion centers collected this information verbally instead of having a written questionnaire. The topics least addressed were the possible complications relating to the donation, religious scarifications, and history of sickle cell anemia and hemorrhage. Only three centers recorded the temperature of the blood donors. The deferral criteria least reported were sickle cell anemia, piercing, scarification, and tattoo.

Conclusions: The medical selection process was not performed systemically and thoroughly enough, given the regional epidemiologic risks. It is essential to identify the risk factors specific to francophone African countries and modify the current medical history questionnaires to develop a more effective and relevant selection process.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors certify that they have no affiliation with or financial involvement in any organization or entity with a direct financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript (e.g., employment, consultancies, board membership, stock ownership, honoraria), except as disclosed in an attachment.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number and type of participating blood centers for each country. The number of each type of symbol corresponds to the number of that type of blood center within the country participating in the study. *Number of national blood centers in the country. §Number of regional blood centers in the country. #Number of hospital-based blood banks in the country. ◇Number of collection units in the country.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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