Blood donation by healthy individuals with haemochromatosis

Aim. To determine how many individuals with haemochromatosis undergoing the rapeutic venesections in our department might be eligible for blood donatio n. Methods, Patients with genetic haemochromatosis were assessed with respect to complications of their disorder, the presence of other medical condition s and their suitability to be blood donors. Results. Of 74 patients, 53 have been tested and shown to be homozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation, and 30 of these (40%) fulfilled criteria for blood donation. This group is having 409 units of blood removed annually or 13-u nits per individual that is currently discarded. Of these 30 patients, all (100%) were keen to be blood donors. Conclusion. It is timely to review the policy regarding use of this wasted blood for transfusion.