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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Apr;61(4):1134-1140.
doi: 10.1111/trf.16278. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

The effect of COVID-19 on blood donation habits

Richard R Gammon  1 , Alicia Bellido Prichard  2 , Michael Sel Gannett  3 , Boyan Yordanov  4
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

The effect of COVID-19 on blood donation habits

Richard R Gammon et al. Transfusion. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Blood centers (BCs) rely on schools and businesses. Shelter-in-place orders closed them. This study determined how COVID-19 affected donation habits.

Study design and methods: Two periods were reviewed (May 1 through June 30, 2018 vs 2019 [control] and 2019 vs 2020 [study-COVID period]). These donations were reviewed: first-time, repeat (donation ≤ 2 years), and lapsed (no donation > 2 years); sex; age; ethnicity; and ABO blood groups at high school and college drives. Testing all donors for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies started May 18, 2020.

Results: In the study period donations significantly increased (control P = .683, study P ≤ .0001) and comparing sex (control male P = .716, female P = .657; study male P = .004, female P ≤ .0001). In the study period there was a significant decrease in Hispanic (P = .001) and African American (P < .0001) donations also seen among high school and college drives and an increase in Caucasian (P < .0001) donations. There was a significant increase in first-time (P < .0001) and lapsed donors (P < .0001) in the study period vs control (first-time P = .087, lapsed P = .308) and a significant decrease in donors not more than 30 years (study 16-20 P < .0001, 21-30 P < .0001). There was a significant increase in all blood types in the study period (P < .0001) and in donations after implementation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing (P = .001).

Conclusions: Significant changes occurred in donation habits in the study vs the control periods. These included increased total donations, comparing sexes, first-time and lapsed donors, all blood types, and Caucasian donations. Significant decreases were seen in Hispanic and African American donations and those not more than 30 years old.

Keywords: blood center operations; blood management; donors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Changes in donations stratified by (A) sex, (B), ethnicity, (C) donor status, (D) ages 16 to 20 years, and (E) ages 21 to 30 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Changes in donations at blood drives held at high schools and college campuses stratified by (A) total donations and (B) ethnicity. Null and unknown mean that the ethnicity was not reported [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Donations significantly increased (P = .001) once SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody testing was initiated on May 18, 2020 [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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