Aim: To determine how many individuals with haemochromatosis undergoing therapeutic venesections in our department might be eligible for blood donation.
Methods: Patients with genetic haemochromatosis were assessed with respect to complications of their disorder, the presence of other medical conditions and their suitability to be blood donors.
Results: Of 74 patients, 53 have been tested and shown to be homozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation, and 30 of these (40%) fulfilled criteria for blood donation. This group is having 409 units of blood removed annually or 13-units per individual that is currently discarded. Of these 30 patients, all (100%) were keen to be blood donors.
Conclusion: It is timely to review the policy regarding use of this wasted blood for transfusion.