Background/Case Studies: In 2014, our national blood service instituted a donor re-entry (DRE) program for unconfirmed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological markers and false-positive nucleic acid tests (NAT). Our DRE program requires donors to be retested with a specimens-only donation after a 6-month deferral period. Donors who were negative for all routinely screened transmissible disease (TD) markers are requalified to donate blood products. The DRE program was expanded in January 2023 to include unconfirmed syphilis and human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1/2 TD markers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the yield of re-entered donors for HIV, HBV and HCV markers and identify areas for improving DRE program yield.
Study
Design/Methods: The ePROGESA database (Mak-System, Brussels, Belgium) was used to store blood donor data. Data were collected from February 3, 2014, to December 31, 2022. Donor laboratory results, temporary deferral codes, and re-entry codes were collected. Data analysis used GraphPad Prism 9.5.0 (GraphPad Software, Boston, MA, USA).
Results/Findings: See Table and caption. Conclusions: Most donors (range: 57-72%) who participate in the DRE program successfully requalify to donate, with some inter-TD marker variation. Requalified donors appear motivated to continue donating. Process changes are being developed to increase the proportion of deferred, DRE program-eligible donors who return for retesting.
Importance of research: Blood operators are expending significant resources in modifying donor re-entry (DRE) programs. Understanding past DRE recovery trends can help blood operators identify the steps at which DRE programs yields can be improved. Analysis of DRE program data also helps blood operators consider how donor-dependent factors such as continued unconfirmed repeat reactive transmissible disease marker results may be addressed.
