Verification of the drug history given by potential blood donors: results of drug screening that combines hair and urine analysis

BACKGROUND: Besides modern virus-screening methods, the avoidance of transf usion transmission of viral diseases is based on the best possible selectio n of healthy donors. Unfortunately, most of the relevant behavior-related r isk factors are not accessible to objective verification. Drug screening ca n be used to validate a defined section of donor statements. It may be assu med that donors who conceal drug consumption may also conceal other relevan t risk factors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Hair and urine samples from 186 young potential d onors who denied having consumed drugs were investigated by gas chromatogra phy with mass selective detection and a urine fluorescence polarization imm unoassay for cannabinoids, amphetamine and amphetamine derivatives, cocaine , and opiates. RESULTS: Ten potential donors with 14 positive results on hair and urine an alyses (6x cannabinoids, 4x cocaine, Ix opiates, 3x dihydrocodeine) could b e identified in the population investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The donor history is not adequate for identifying potential do nors with risk factors. Deliberately false statements concerning risk facto rs are a clear breach of trust between the blood bank and potential donors. These unreliable donors represent an incalculable risk for the transfusion recipient. Therefore, it is appropriate to validate donor statements about drug consumption by random hair and urine analyses and to exclude from the donor pool all persons revealed as drug users.