Donor reactions in high-school donors: the effects of sex, weight, and collection volume

BACKGROUND: The high incidence of donor reactions in first‐time, 17‐year‐old Caucasian whole‐blood donors makes this group ideal for the study of donor reactions. STUDY DESIGN and METHODS: Donor reaction rates were retrospectively evaluated in 7274 first‐time, 17‐year‐old Caucasian whole‐blood donors based on observa‐tions recorded at the collection sites. The effect of sex and weight on donor reactions was determined. In addition, a model was developed to estimate how different blood collection volumes would affect donor reaction rates. RESULTS: The donor reaction rate was 12.0 percent (870/7274). Female donors overall had a higher donor reaction rate than male donors (16.7% vs. 7.3%) and also had a higher donor reaction rate than male donors at each 20‐lb weight interval in the range from 110 to 189 lb. A model suggested that a change in the blood‐unit volume from 450 to 500 mL would increase donor reaction rates by 18 percent in either female or male donors, whereas a reduction in the blood‐unit volume from 500 to 400 mL would decrease donor reaction rates by 29 and 27 percent in female and male donors, respectively. CONCLUSION: First‐time, 17‐year‐old Caucasian female donors had a higher donor reaction rate than male donors overall and at equivalent donor weights. In the range of present US blood‐unit volumes, a change in collection of as little as 50 mL could have a significant impact on blood donor reaction rates in high‐school students.