Журнал болезней крови и переливания крови

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Sociodemographic Characteristics, Hematological Parameters and Absolute CD4 Counts of Healthy Blood Donors at Two Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria

Ahaneku I Osuji, Nneka R Agbakoba, Martin O Ifeanyichukwu, Ejeatuluchukwu Obi and Jean Njab

Introduction: This observational study was undertaken to assess hematological parameters and the efficacy of screening methods in healthy subjects eligible for blood donation at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Abuja Nigeria and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria.

Methods: Two hundred and twelve (212) healthy subjects from the two hospitals (NAUTH-104, UATH-108) were tested for hematological parameters and absolute CD4 cell count using Sysmex auto-hematology analyzer and Partec Cyflow counter respectively. Sociodemographic data were collected using a questionnaire and ABO blood group testing was performed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data obtained.

Results: The mean red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, CD4, and platelet count of the blood donor samples at UATH and NAUTH were within acceptable reference ranges except for hemoglobin values that showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). Of 212 subjects tested, 40 (18.9%), 51 (24.1%), 24 (11.3%), 64 (30.2%), 16 (7.5%) and 22 (10.4%) had abnormally low values for red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, CD4 and platelets count respectively. Sociodemographic data showed that most blood donors were males, and belonged to O positive blood group, with a median age of 33 years old, and were students and traders.

Conclusion: We found that hematocrit (HCT) alone as a screening value has clear limits. Moreover, our study demonstrated other blood cells were low in this healthy population. Therefore, routine screening of prospective blood donors should be expanded to other hematological parameters.