Impact of donor deferrals for malaria on blood availability and safety in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center 2005-2010

Background Deferral for travel to malaria-endemic areas has excluded many blood donors in the Iran. To determine the effect of these deferrals on blood availability and safety we designed this study. Materials and Methods In cross sectional and retrospective study deferred donors due to malaria related risk factors from 2005-2010 in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center were sampled to enroll for analysis. Data were extracted from MAK data base by two different grouped keywords. 2827129 record of blood donor volunteers were surveyed for the study. Results 23462 out of all volunteers were deferred due to malaria`s risks from 2005-2010 in Tehran Blood Transfusion Center. The most frequent deferral causes related to malaria was shown travel to malaria endemic areas. The trend of deferral volunteers due to malaria''s risks was shown descending pattern after relaxing application of the present guideline for travel to very low-risk areas such as Karbala. Conclusions We estimated that the wastage of more than 7000 units of blood were prevented annually by accepting volunteers who travelled to very low malaria''s risk areas، but according to other similar studies it seem wiser to defer them for a short period (e. g. 3 months)، instead without deferral period. If cost permits، The introduction of a malarial screening test in the assessment of malaria''s risk blood donor eligibility would be an ideal strategy.