Pre-screening donor eligibility to avoid a deferral in the blood donation center: A retrospective cohort study

Background: The application of a temporary deferral when attempting to donate has a negative impact on retention. Little has been done to reduce the likelihood of a donor attending to donate, only to be found to be ineligible. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-screening donors when making an appointment, to prevent in-center deferrals.

Study design and methods: Donation attempts were collated between July and December 2020. Two segments were identified: (1) those who had a deferral applied and (2) those who successfully donated. Donor and donation characteristics examined included age, sex, prior donation history, deferral history, and appointment booking channel (pre-screened vs. not pre-screened). We also explored the impact of pre-screening on the subsequent donation behavior of those who were deferred.

Results: Overall, 3.2% of donation attempts resulted in a deferral being applied. Most donors booked an appointment via a pre-screening channel (69.9%), with the mobile app being the most popular (31.9%). Donors who booked via a pre-screening channel had lower odds of receiving a deferral (aOR: 0.86). Strongest effects were observed for new donors (aOR: 0.79), those aged ≤40 years. (aOR: 0.84) and those deferred in the past (aOR: 0.87). Deferred donors who booked by a pre-screening channel were more likely to return at 6 months (aHR: 1.09) and 12 months (aHR: 1.12) compared to those who did not book through a pre-screening channel.

Discussion: Pre-screening donors is a simple and effective approach to reduce the number of donors deferred when presenting to donate in the donation center, with a longer-term impact on donor retention.