Investigating the Importance of Haemoglobin Measurement for Selection of Blood Donors in Libya

In Libya, haemoglobin estimation is not used routinely to assess the fitness of blood donors. We examined the importance of including this parameter in donor selection. Venous blood samples were collected from the bleed line at the end of the donation process from 1339 healthy adult male blood donors, aged 18-60 years, in Al-Jala Women Hospital in Tripoli, Libya. Haemoglobin concentration was measured using an automated haematology analyzer. The main donor age categories were 21-30 and 31-40 years (49.5% and 37%, respectively). Blood donation was mainly a replacement donation. The mean ±2SD range for haemoglobin was 10.8-17.0 g/dl. 27.2% of the donors had haemoglobin concentration of less than 13 g/dl, 16.9% of them had less than 12.5 g/dl and 1.9% had less than 10.8.5 g/dl. Our results suggest that it is important to include haemoglobin estimation as a routine procedure in selection of blood donors.