Observations on a Change from “Altruistic” to” “Assurance” Blood Donors

Differences in positive Hepatitis testing results have been noted in different blood donor populations. A recent change in our policy for blood donors provided an opportunity to relate hepatitis antigen results to motivation. A blood center previously used donors whose only motivation was the opportunity to give blood for the community where it was needed (“altruistic”). The center then changed to an approach which provides an insurance policy to each volunteer covering all his blood costs in the ensuing year (“assurance”). Certain changes in results of blood testing have become apparent. In the four month period preceding the policy change, 3,364 usable units were drawn at the center. Of these units, six were rejected in the laboratory because of a positive STS (0.178%) and seven were positive by RIA for HBAg (0.208%). After the publically announced change in policy, 3,084 usable units were drawn in the ensuing four months. From this donor pool, 18 units were rejected for positive STS (0.58%) and 16 for a positive test for. HBAg (0.518%). These changes represent a statistically significant difference in the incidence of positive serologies for syphilis and for hepatitis, in the donor populations. We suggest that the motivation of blood donors may be influenced by the type of compensation offered and that an all-volunteer blood procurement program appears the safest course.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Observations on a Change from “Altruistic” to” “Assurance” Blood Donors ; volume:38 ; number:05 ; year:1977 ; Konferenz: XIIth Congress of The World Federation of Hemophilia; 1977-06-22; Philadelphia ; Thrombosis and haemostasis ; 38, Heft 05 (1977)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Contributor: Morrison, F.S. ; Lotz, L.

Further information

• DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1682580
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2412190851143.532047862683
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:24 AM CEST