Piloting and implementation of quality assessment and quality control procedures in RBC-Omics: a large multi-center study of red blood cell hemolysis during storage.

Background: The major aims of the RBC-Omics study were to evaluate the genomic and metabolomic determinants of spontaneous and stress-induced hemolysis during RBC storage. This study was unique in scale and design to allow evaluation of RBC donations from a sufficient number of donors across the spectrum of race, ethnicity, sex, and donation intensity. Study procedures were carefully piloted, optimized, and controlled to enable high-quality data collection.

Blood donation history and eligibility assessment in a community-based sample of men who have sex with men.

Background: In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration changed the regulation from a permanent deferral from donation for men who have sex with men (MSM) to a 1-year deferral since last sexual contact. It is unknown what proportions of MSM try to donate and if they would be willing to answer individual risk-based questions to assess their current eligibility.

Study Design And Methods: The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance surveys periodically measure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and risk behaviors among MSM using a venue-based, time-location sampling method.

Feasibility of routine ferritin testing for donor management: validation of delayed processing and demonstration of within donor reproducibility over time.

Background: Understanding the effect of delayed processing of whole blood on plasma ferritin will inform the feasibility of both routine ferritin testing in donors and clinical research study design.

Study Design And Methods: Whole blood tubes drawn from 16 donors were held at 4°C and centrifuged at 24-hour intervals to assess plasma ferritin concentration up to 5 days after draw. Intraindividual variation over time was measured in 21 healthy donors in blood samples collected weekly for 4 weeks and then at 12 weeks.