The impact of COVID-19 on blood safety and availability in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected blood inventory and donation worldwide. The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first countries to report the COVID-19 pandemic and it faced a significant blood shortage during the first weeks of the pandemic.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the number, type, and safety of blood donations, comparing the periods before and during the pandemic.