Removing upper age restrictions for returning donors and increasing the new donor upper age: Novel adverse event findings using a comprehensive donor vigilance system in Australia.

Background And Objectives: In July 2019, Australia removed the upper age limit for returning donors (previously 80 years) and increased the upper age for new donors from 70 to 75 years. This study assessed the safety of our new policy for our newly eligible upper age donors (NEUADs).

Materials And Methods: For the period, 14 July 2019 to 30 June 2023, the relative risk (RR) of individual adverse events in NEUADs was compared with younger cohorts.

Haemolysis in red blood cell components is associated with donor ferritin and body mass index status, but not donation frequency.

Whole blood donors who donate more frequency are more likely to develop iron deficiency, which could potentially affect the quality of the red blood cell (RBC) components during storage. Additional donor factors such as sex, age at donation, donor body mass index (BMI), as well as the manufacturing method could also affect RBC component quality, particularly haemolysis. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between donation frequency, donor ferritin levels and BMI status on an extensive set of RBC characteristics in vitro, during storage at 2-6 °C for 42 days.

Offering new and returned donors the option to give plasma: implications for donor retention and donor adverse events.

Background And Objectives: In 2018, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood changed its plasmapheresis eligibility criteria to allow donors to donate plasma without the requirement of a prior successful whole blood donation. This study evaluated the impact of this policy change on donor retention and donor safety.

Materials And Methods: All donors who had attempted to give their first plasma or whole blood donation from January to June 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort study.