ESTIMATION OF SERUM FERRITIN LEVEL IN REGULAR BLOOD DONORS - A TERTIARY HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Introduction: Nutritional Anemia is a worldwide problem with the highest prevalence in developing countries like India. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) accounts for 8.41 lacs deaths annually worldwide. WHO/CDC in 2004 recommended Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin level as the most sensitive markers for detection of Iron Deficiency (ID) and Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Aim: To assess and compare Serum Ferritin and the Hematological Indices between control (first time donor) and regular blood donors.

Materials and Methods: Donors were divided into Control (first time donors) and Case (donors who had donated atleast two times per year in the last five previous years). Following donation, blood samples from 80 donors were collected - 2 ml in EDTA tubes for CBC by using Automatic Hematolgy Analyzer machine and 4ml in plain tubes for Serum Ferritin estimation by ELISA method.

Results: In our Case Control study, we noted statistically significant association between difference of mean values and frequency of donation with respect to  Age and Serum Ferritin level in control and case. We also noted statistically significant association of Serum Ferritin with respect to number of lifetime donation, donation per year, Hb and MCV (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: As a part of Donor Hemovigilance Program, awareness should be enhanced among blood bank professionals and regular donors about estimation of Serum Ferritin level to maintain adequate donor pool.