Name
#24 Decreasing Minimal Blood Donor Interval with Iron Supplementation
Speakers
Content Presented on Behalf of
Army
Services/Agencies represented
US Army
Session Type
Posters
Room#/Location
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Focus Areas/Topics
Clinical Care, Policy/Management/Administrative
Learning Outcomes
1. Whole blood donors taking supplemental iron replace iron more quickly and do not develop sustained iron deficiency anemia.
3. Environments requiring large amounts of blood for medical interventions (e.g. large scale combat operations), shorter intervals between whole blood donation are feasible if donors are receiving iron supplementation.
3. More frequent blood donations could potentially increase blood supply and save lives during combat.
4. Shortened whole blood donation intervals would closely align donation frequency with the shelf life of cold-stored whole blood.
3. Environments requiring large amounts of blood for medical interventions (e.g. large scale combat operations), shorter intervals between whole blood donation are feasible if donors are receiving iron supplementation.
3. More frequent blood donations could potentially increase blood supply and save lives during combat.
4. Shortened whole blood donation intervals would closely align donation frequency with the shelf life of cold-stored whole blood.
Session Currently Live
Description
Whole blood administration has been proven to decrease preventable hemorrhagic deaths on the battlefield. Blood donation depletes total iron stores within the body; hemoglobin must be replenished to a safe level before subsequent blood donation. Current clinical guidelines allow whole blood donation every 8 weeks, but the shelf life for cold-stored whole blood is only 35 days. Frequent donors often become anemic and must wait longer between donations. This narrative review examines whether iron therapy following blood donation helps donors restore Hb concentration to a safe level for subsequent donation more quickly, allowing for a shorter safe interval between donations and an increased blood supply.