Iron stores in blood donors: A literature mini review

An increase in the frequency of blood donation among the donor population is liable to result in excessive iron loss and development of iron deficiency anemia. In the majority of blood banks, hemoglobin and/or hematocrit measurements are used as screening tests for the ability to donate blood even though iron stores may be depleted in donors with hemoglobin values above the arbitrarily defined limit for anemia. In the present study, we have reviewed the iron deficiency in blood donors and characteristics which predispose to this condition.