REASONS AND RATES OF BLOOD DONOR DEFERRAL IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Donor deferral reduces immediate blood availability and may harm donor return. Local data help target simple, safe improvements.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional audit of pre-donation deferrals in a Saudi tertiary hospital blood bank from 1 Oct 2024 to 31 Oct 2025. All presentations that completed screening were included. Outcomes were overall and reason-specific deferral rates, patterns by sex, age, and donor status, and monthly trends.

Results: Of 9,540 screened presentations, 1,080 were deferred (11.3%, 95% CI 10.7–12.0). The leading reason was low hemoglobin (39.0%), followed by vital-sign abnormality (18.0%) and medical/medication reasons (12.0%). Females were deferred more than males (16.7% vs 9.8%). First-time donors had higher deferral than repeat donors (15.7% vs 8.6%). In multivariable analysis, female sex (aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.43–1.88), first-time status (aOR 1.71, 1.51–1.95), and lower Hb (per 1 g/dL decrease, aOR 1.22, 1.18–1.26) were independent predictors. Monthly rates showed a small rise during Ramadan and Hajj.

Conclusions: Deferral in this hospital was moderate and mainly due to low hemoglobin, with higher risk in females and first-time donors. Practical actions include brief iron guidance, confirmatory testing for borderline Hb, targeted pre-visit reminders, standardized vital-sign measurement, and seasonal scheduling. These steps are low cost and may reduce avoidable deferrals while maintaining safety.