Pandemic blood donor demographics – Do changes impact blood safety?

Vassallo, Ralph R.; Bravo, Marjorie D.; Kamel, Hany

BACKGROUND: COVID‐19 safety measures and possibly SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody testing may alter blood donor demography, which has the potential to alter blood safety. We characterized pre‐pandemic and pandemic rates of donor infectious disease marker (IDM) reactivity which reflect the residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections (TTIs) undetectable by current testing. METHODS: This cross‐sectional analysis of allogeneic blood donor presentations and successful donations in a large national US blood collector identifies changes in self‐reported behavioral risk factors and IDM reactivity. Data on allogeneic blood donor presentations and successful donations from March 1 through August 31, 2020 and the same period in 2019 were retrieved from the blood center's computer system. Donor demographics and deferrals for reported behavioral risk factors and confirmed‐positive IDMs were compared in pre‐pandemic and pandemic periods. RESULTS: With increasing mobile blood drive cancellations, pandemic donors were more likely than 2019 donors to be female, over age 30, non‐Hispanic Whites, and have a post‐secondary degree. First‐time donations (at highest risk for confirmed‐positive IDMs) did not substantially increase. Pandemic donors reported fewer behavioral risks and IDMs declined among these donors. Mid‐pandemic introduction of screening for SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies did not affect IDM rates. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike disasters, which tend to bring out more first‐time donors with increased IDM reactivity and TTI residual risk, COVID‐19 donors had lower IDM rates which were not affected by SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody testing. Already‐low TTI residual risk is likely to have declined as a result.