Leading Serologic Cause Of Blood Donor Deferral example essay topic

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CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING INTRODUCTION Each year, more than 14 million units of blood and products are collected from 6 million people who walk into their local donation center, appear at mobile blood drives or donate at any one of multiple creative spots where the trained blood drawing staff can be found. These people provide for the million of patients who are transfused every year. The reason why someone donates blood can be as varied as the type of people who donate. The basic reason break down into four (areas) (1) altruistic volunteer donation (2) donation to replace products used (3) donation to cover family and friends in some type of insurance program and (4) donation for pay.

The last category, paid donors, are not used in today blood banks. Although they continue to play an important part in supplying certain products necessary for patient care, paid donors are found exclusively in that industry which provide plasma for pharmaceutical products. Donors are considered to be "volunteer" if they receive no direct financial payment for their donation, most donors donate simply because they are healthy enough to do so and want to share this with their community, The replacing of these products allows the product to be available for everyone who needs them. The replacement of the product can some in cases reduce the patients medical expenses.

Other healthy people became blood donors to participate in coverage plan that provide insurance - type protection for anyone in the covered family who requires blood products during the time of the contract. The plan has the potential to reduce medical expenses at the time that the product is used. Blood collection depends on a system of safeguards to reduce the risk of infection. Sensitive screening tests are necessary but represent only 1 component of this system.

Other "layers of safety" include detailed donor education; stringent screening, selection, and deferral procedures; post donation product quarantine; and donor tracing and notification when instances of transmission of an infectious agent occur. Each element plays a role in preventing "tainted" units from entering the blood inventory. In addition, the Department of Health has constructed a comprehensive safety vigilance system to address unknown and emerging infectious threats. Blood components provided through such a system should prove safe and inspire public confidence.

By and large, the protective system has proved effective. Glynn et al measured markers of viral exposure in 1.9 million volunteer blood donors at 5 regional blood centers between 1991 and 1996, and they report an extremely low risk for the major transfusion-transmitted viruses. The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among first-time donors was far lower than that of the general population and continued to decline during this interval. The seroconversion rate among repeat blood donors was so infrequent, even using mathematical modeling for rare events, that trends were difficult to interpret. These new data support previous risk estimates of viral transmission from volunteer donor blood, now so low that they are generally expressed as the number of cases per million units transfused.

(Schreiber, p. 110) Despite the dramatic improvement in blood safety and the low risk of viral transmission, substantial effort and resources should continue to expand to eliminate the few transmissions that remain. One thing we can do is being aware of the causes of blood transmittable diseases. As the saying goes, What one sow, one reaps... by being aware of the leading causes of blood donor deferral, would help not only individuals but even the entire nation in imposing necessary preventive procedures as well as giving more stress with that condition. In one way or another, by knowing the leading cause of blood donor deferral, it would give gist to the government on what necessary programs it would give importance to so as in the near future the risk of blood transfusion would be completely alleviated. In view of this, this research study sought the link between blood diseases and the causes of blood donor deferral. Moreover, this study is intended to present the leading cause of blood donor deferral at Olongapo City Memorial Hospital.

Serving as a database of the current progress of Olongapo city as a blood bank unit is also one of the primary purpose of this research. INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT Figure no. 1 Conceptual framework of the study entitled: Leading Hematologic and Serologic Causes of Blood Donor Deffer al at James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital from Year 1998 to 2000 The main concern of this research is to find out the Hematologic and Serologic causes of blood donor deferral. For validity of the results, this study covered the years 1998 to 2000. Two variables were used.

The Blood Donors served as the input or the independent variable of the study. Logbooks kept by the blood bank section as well as other record was a great help. Review and analysis of records with the aid of simple statistical tools such as percentage distribution served as the process of this study. On the other hand the output of this study are the factors leading to blood donor rejection as well the incidence rate of such factor. The analyses of the mentioned variables yield necessary information so that further understanding of the problem was established. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: It is the primary objective of this research to determine and enumerate the leading hematological and serological causes of blood donor deferral at Olongapo City General Hospital also known as James Gordon Memorial Hospital.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: All blood banks should endeavor in ensuring blood safety through maintenance of quality blood products and services; achieving and maintaining blood supply adequacy through a fully voluntary system. This research sought to present the percentage of blood donors deferred at JLGH as to serologic and hematologic causes, moreover, this research sought to answers to the following questions: A. How may the blood donors deferred at JLGH be described in terms of serologic grounds for deferral B. How may the blood donors deferral at JGLGH be described in terms of hematologic grounds for deferral C. How may the blood donors deferred at JGLGH due to hematologic causes be described in terms of gender. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Identification of an emerging transfusion-transmitted infectious disease and assessment of its magnitude will determine the balanced response required to ensure the continuing safety of blood components while maintaining an adequate supply. Management of an emerging threat to the blood supply involves refinement of donor recruitment and selection practices, donor testing, and blood processing. Recipient surveillance may also be important. The appropriate strategy is based on careful assessment of the risk: benefit ratio, cost-effectiveness, and availability of procedures to remove that threat from the donor pool.

Each intervention was tailored to the epidemiology and microbiology of the infection. In order to have a basis of the emerging causes of blood deferral, a summary of the probable cause of donor rejection was made as well as the pre-occurrence of such condition. In view of this, this study presented the causes of blood donor deferral at the said hospital and also the rate of such deferral was made. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION This study was conducted at Olongapo General Hospital or also known as James L. Gordon General Hospital. The coverage period of which in order to have a reliable and sufficient data would be from year 1998 to 2000. Only deferred donors for the said period having number of deferral reasons was tallied by the researchers to come up with the leading causes of blood donor deferral will be included in this study.

This study did not attempt to include factors of deferral involving physical examination. More soever, only the following serological test were used in the study: (1) HIV test, (2) HbsAg, HCV RPR - Syphillis. James L. Gordon General Hospital was the target hospital were the study was conducted since it is the only Hospital having a blood bank unit in Olongapo City, moreover this is the hospital which the authors have access to the facility being a Medical Technology Interns there. DEFINITION OF TERMS: BLOOD TRANSFUSION / TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES. Diseases acquired as a result of blood transfusion. (e.g. AIDS, Hepatitis, etc) BLOOD BANK.

A laboratory institution with the capability to recruit and screen blood donors, collect, process store, transport and issue blood for, transfusion and provide information and / or education on blood transfusion / transmissible diseases. (Carolino, et. al p 7) DONORS. Refers to the person donating blood H and H. Haemoglobin and Hematocrit; a blood screening procedure used to indicate the concentration of blood HbsAg. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen; antigen which are found among patient who are exposed and have Hepatitis B virus HCV. Hepatitis C Virus - Causes Hepatitis C infection, which is of milder than Hepatits B. HEMATOLOGIC GROUNDS. In the study, hematologic grounds pertains to hematologic test such as Hemoglobin and Hematocrit determination HEPATITS.

A disease characterized by inflammation of the liver caused by a virus of RNA other agents HIV. Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Causes AIDS - a disease of the immune system. RECIPIENTS. The person who will receive blood RPR. Rapid Plasma Re agin; a presumptive test for Syphilis OCGH.

Olongapo City General Hospital also known as James Gordon General Hospital SCREENING TEST. Test performed specially in blood donation procedure to detect presence of certain antibodies on the blood SEROLOGIC GROUNDS. This pertains to serologic assays performed to blood during donor screening which includes the following assays: test for HBSAg, RPR - Syphilis, HIV test and HCV. VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION.

Freewill donation of blood, without expecting anything in-exchange WBC White Blood Cells CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Since blood is a biologic product, it is unlikely that the risk for transfusion-transmitted infection will ever be reduced to zero. The approach to emerging infections associated with transfusion of blood and blood products includes assessing the transmissibility of the agent by this route; developing effective prevention strategies, including screening tests and donor deferral policies; improving viral and bacterial inactivation procedures; and surveillance for known, as well as emerging and poorly characterized, transfusion-transmitted agents. Vigilance is needed to help ensure proper balance between safety and the availability of blood. It needs to extend to the developing world, where the basic elements to reduce transfusion-transmitted infections and systems of disease surveillance are often not available.

BLOOD-TRANSMITTED DISEASES VIRUSES HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transfusion transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has been almost completely eradicated. Since early 1985, blood centers have tested every blood donation for HIV antibodies. HIV tests have undergone continuous improvement, and in 1996 blood centers added yet another HIV test called the HIV antigen assay. This new test makes the blood supply even safer, because it can detect HIV about one week sooner than the antibody test. Used in combination, these sophisticated tests have reduced the risk of getting HIV from a single blood transfusion to about 1 in 676,000. Transfusion medicine specialists are continually researching new technologies to further reduce the transmission of HIV.

Examples of technologies that are on the horizon include tests for HIV gene material, methods to kill viruses in donated blood (called viral inactivation) and blood component substitutes. (AABB Online) Human T Lymph tropic Virus I, -II (HTLV-I, -II) HTLV-I and -II are unusual viruses that are not related to HIV. HTLV-I is found mainly in Southwestern Japan and Caribbean islands. The virus may eventually cause blood or nervous system diseases in a very small number of infected people. HTLV-II is endemic in the Americas (including the US), and may also infrequently cause nervous system disease. Both of these viruses, although rare, found in the US blood donor population in the 1980's.

Few people have gotten HTLV as a result of transfusion, but because of the small transfusion risk that existed in the 1980's, tests to detect HTLV-I antibodies were developed and quickly implemented; these tests also detected many HTLV-II infections. Tests that are specifically designed to detect both viruses are now available and are used by blood centers to screen every donation. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus belonging to the herpes group that can be transmitted by blood transfusion. About one percent of the blood donor population test positive for antibodies to the virus, and less than one percent of donors appear able to transmit the infection. CMV infection is usually mild, but it may be serious or fatal in those who are immunocompromised. Particularly at risk are low-birth weight infants and bone marrow and heart-lung transplant patients.

If a patient is at high risk of getting CMV diseases, blood that tests negative for CMV can be transfused. Alternatively, blood that has been filtered to decrease the number of White Blood Cells - the cells that carry CMV - may protect patients from getting a CMV infection from transfusion. PARASITIC INFECTIONS Malaria Of an estimated four million patients who are transfused each year, only about three cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria are reported in the US. These cases are usually caused by someone who feels well and does not know he or she is carrying malaria. Although exceedingly rare, malaria can cause serious consequences, including fatalities. The AABB requires blood centers to temporarily defer blood donations from people who have visited malarial areas in the past year or who emigrated from a malarial area within the past three years.

(AABB, p. 78) Babesiosis Babesiosis is a parasitic infection that is carried by the white-footed mouse and transmitted by tick bites. It appears primarily in the Northeastern US, in coastal areas that are home to the white-footed mouse. In the past 20 years, about two dozen transfusion-associated cases have been reported in the US. People who have been infected rough tick bites can only transmit the parasite through blood for a very short period of time after being exposed. However, some patients, including those who do not have a spleen or whose immunity is compromised, may be at risk of serious illness.

For this reason, the AABB requires that all donors be asked if they have a history of babesiosis. Those individuals with a history of the disease are permanently deferred from donating blood. Chagas' Disease Chagas' Disease was discovered almost 100 years ago by a Brazilian actor, Carlos Chagas. This disease is caused by a parasite that infects as many as 18 million people worldwide. Each year, several thousand South and Central Americans die of heart and digestive problems caused by the disease. Up to 20 percent of infected people never exhibit symptoms.

This infection is rare in the US, but because of recent global population shifts, individuals from countries where this disease is common now reside in the US. To date, there have been only four cases of transfusion-transmitted Chagas' disease reported in North America. The AABB requires that blood centers permanently prohibit blood donation from anyone who has had Chagas' disease. VIRAL VIRAL HEPATITIS Hepatitis was the first documented transfusion-transmitted disease. Many of the current practices for diminishing risk in transfusion medicine are based on the experiences of controlling the transmission of hepatitis. This experience is based on the transition from paid donors to an all-volunteer blood supply in the early 1970's and improvements in blood testing.

Hepatitis viruses, which affect the liver, fall primarily into two groups: viruses that cause acute disease and are not often transmitted by transfusion (hepatitis A and E), and viruses with a chronic course that can readily be transmitted by blood transfusion (hepatitis B and C). Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Hepatitis A (HAV) infection is rarely transmitted through blood transfusion; it is usually spread by contaminated food and water. About 23,000 cases are reported annually in the US, but epidemiologists estimate that the virus infects 150,000 Americans each year. Hepatitis A is much more prevalent elsewhere, including Mexico and parts of the Caribbean. Because HAV antibodies are present in approximately 20 percent of the population, it is assumed that many people experience mild or no symptoms. There have been occasional reports in the US of transfusion-transmitted HAV, but little can be done to prevent this rare occurrence.

A vaccine recently developed for HAV is expected to replace immune globulin as a prophylactic measure for people at a high risk for acquiring this infection. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is rare because of routine testing of blood for the HBsAg and hepatitis B core antibody, donor screening and deferral and the use of a volunteer blood supply. HBV is a major cause of acute and chronic hepatitis. Each year in the US, estimated 300,000 persons are infected with HBV. More than 10,000 patients require hospitalization and an average of 50 die from the disease. There is an estimated pool of 750,000 - 1,000,000 infectious HBV carriers.

Approximately 25 percent of carriers develop active hepatitis, often progressing to cirrhosis of the liver. An estimated 4,000 people die each year from hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, and more than 800 die from hepatitis B-related liver cancer. The number of HBV infections in the US is expected to drop with current, routine hepatitis B vaccinations of health care professionals and school-age children. Screening blood donors for HBV began in 1969 and became mandatory in 1972. By the mid-1970's, testing and an all-volunteer blood donor supply reduced the rate of post transfusion hepatitis B to between 0.3 and 0.9 percent.

From 1982-85, an average of 3 percent of hepatitis B cases were related to blood transfusion. During the period 1986-88, the percentage of reported cases related to blood transfusion declined to 1 percent, possibly as a consequence of the donor screening questions that were instituted to identify persons at increased risk for HIV infection. In a small number of hepatitis B carriers, the hepatitis tests used to screen blood will be negative, and a small number of transfusion recipients may still develop hepatitis B. In 1996, the frequency of post-transfusion hepatitis B developing after a blood transfusion was estimated at 1 per 66,000 screened units of blood. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively mild. It has an incubation period of about seven to eight weeks. However, post-transfusion infection with HCV most often becomes chronic.

Among the general population today, at any one time, 1 percent of the population has HCV antibodies present. There are an estimated 150,000-170,000 new HCV infections annually in the US. Although chronic liver disease is a frequent result of HCV, such disease may take years to develop. The majority of people with chronic HCV infection may be asymptomatic. For many years, HCV occurred among 5 percent or more of all blood recipients.

In 1991, the incidence of transfusion-related HCV occurred in 1 to 4 percent of transfusion recipients. Today, after more than seven years of testing for HCV, the risk of HCV transmission through transfusion is less than 1 per 100,000 screened units of blood. With the implementation of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT), the risk of receiving HCV from a unit of blood may be reduced to 1 per 500,000 to 1 per 1,000,000. NAT is still a research initiative and the degree to which safety may be affected is not yet known Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Like HAV, hepatitis E virus is a food and water-borne form of hepatitis that has resulted in outbreaks in India, other parts of the Asian subcontinent and South America. Hepatitis E virus has not been a problem in the United States and Canada. Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) A new virus, provisionally designated hepatitis G virus (HGV), was described in 1996 and later reported to be present in approximately two percent of US blood donors.

Although the virus may be transmitted through transfusion, the association of HGV infection with liver disease remains tenuous. The majority of people who carry the virus appear to have no liver abnormalities. The absence of significant liver disease suggests that transmission of the virus may not greatly undermine the safety of the blood supply. Presently, blood donors are not routinely tested for HGV because a mass screening test does not exist and HGV infection has not been convincingly incriminated with a specific disease association.

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES In a similar study conducted at the V. LUNA General Hospital, Carolino, et. al. presented that one of the leading causes of blood donor deferral on the said hospital was being positive to HbsAg screening test, taking up more than half of the number of rejected donors. Positive to HC screening test, contributes also to deferral of blood donors, thus making Viral Hepatitis the leading cause of donor rejection. In connection with these, the government should intensify their campaign against Hepatits B by making Hepa vaccines more accessible. CHAPTER METHODS AND PROCEDURES RESEARCH DESIGN The researchers utilized descriptive approach of research in this study. As with this method, it involves collection of data in order to test the hypothesis or to answer questions concerning the current status of the subject (Sevilla et. al p 94). Moreover, no manipulation of data or experiments was involved in this study.

This research specifically made use of laboratory record in order to gather information. RESEARCH LOCALE As the only Hospital offering Blood Bank service at Olongapo City, this study was conducted at James L. Gordon General Hospital also known as Olongapo City General Hospital. Almost all cases within the locality is rushed in this hospital. Every day several donors are being screened. This facility was selected for the convenience that the researchers were based at the said hospital. RESPONDENTS Since the focus of our research was on the causes of blood donor deferral as well as the relation of gender on hematological causes of blood donor deferral, the respondents of this are the voluntary blood donors who undergone screening and donor interview at OCGH from the years 1998-200.

The total donors within this period served as a sufficient basis for this study to be performed. SAMPLING DESIGN AND PROCEDURES This study employed the universal type of sampling method since all donors at the OCGH were used as the universal population. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT To draw pertinent data and information needed to answer problems, the researcher utilized the Blood Bank screening books as well as logbooks of blood donors from the coverage area. DATA COLLECTION This study was primarily based on the recorded result of Hematological as well as serological examinations performed on donor samples as reflected on blood bank screening books. Since these logbooks contains the pertinent data needed in the study which were verified and inspected by higher authorities / staff, the researchers made use of it. DATA ANALYSIS The data gathered from the logbooks and other materials were assessed, studied and tallied in order to seek answers with the prevailing research questions and to draw up a conclusion.

For easy and better apprehension, all details were presented in tabulated form. The data collected, were analyzed using the statistical formula percentage distribution. FORMULA: Percentage Distribution = Number of Subjects per Category x 100 Total Number of Subjects CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA This chapter presents the data gathered using logbooks and categorized the into the following so as to draw pertinent answers to the question lifted as well as to formulate conclusion: 1. Using percentage distribution, the Hematologic cause of blood donor deferral contributes the highest reason for blood deferral. Almost 8.26 of the total blood donors were categorized in this section, whereas only 7.51% ofthe total blood donors where deferred due to serologic cause. 6.86% of the total number of blood donors were deferred due to serologic tests.

Table 1.4 Summary: Percentage distribution of blood donors deferral as to Hematologic or Serologic causes for the year 1998, 1999 and 2000 Donors Donors Rejected DEFERRED BY LAB TESTING YEAR Tested Hematologic Serologic No % No % 1998 2930 462 242 8.3 220 7.5 1999 3019 431 224 7.4 207 6.9 2000 3022 400 227 7.5 173 5.7 TOTAL 8971 1293 693 7.7 600 6.7 In summary, hematologic causes of blood donor deferral scored the highest percentage of blood donor deferral giving-off 7.7% of the total donor deferral. 6.7% of the total blood donors were deferred due to serologic causes. 2. Number of donors deferred (percentage) categorized into the following serologic causes: HBV, Syphilis, HIV and HCV Table 2.1. From the result obtained for the year 1998 Hepatitis B virus contributed the leading serologic cause of blood donor deferral scoring 90.9% of the total deferred donors.

Syphilis and HCV scored 4.5% thereby making it the second serologic cause of blood donor deferral. Table 2.2. Almost 88.8% of the total deferred donors belongs to this category. Syphilis aimed the second placed giving-off 6.3% of the total blood donors. HCV comes next with a percentage of 4.4 and HIV is the least.

Table 2.3. Syphilis garnered 5.2% of the total deferred donors and HCV is the least, giving off 2.3% of the total deferred population due to serologic causes. Base from the result, Hepatitis B virus contributed the highest percentage of blood donor deferral due to serologic causes giving off 91.2%. Positive to syphilis garnered the second place = 6.3%. 3.8% of the total deferred donors can be attributed to HCV and HIV acquired the least no of deferred blood donors 3. Effects of gender to hematologic causes of blood donor deferral Table 3.1 Percentage Distribution of deferred blood donors due to hematologic causes as to their gender for the year 1998 Donors GENDER Deferred MALE FEMALE MONTH Hematologic No % No % Test January 20 4 20.0 16 80.0 February 24 5 20.8 19 79.2 March 14 8 57.1 6 42.9 April 13 9 69.2 4 30.8 May 25 4 16.0 21 84.0 June 21 2 9.5 19 90.5 July 25 4 16.0 21 84.0 August 28 7 25.0 21 75.0 September 22 8 36.4 14 63.6 October 20 9 45.0 11 55.0 November 22 9 40.9 13 59.1 December 8 1 12.5 7 87.5 TOTAL 242 70 28.9 172 71.1 This table deals with the percentage of donors deferred due to Hematologic causes categorized as to Male and Female.

Base from the result almost 71% of the blood donors deferred due to hematologic cause belongs to the female category. Only 28% of the total deferred population (hematologic cause) are male. Table 3.2 Percentage Distribution of deferred blood donors due to hematologic causes as to their gender for the year 1999 Donors GENDER Deferred MALE FEMALE MONTH Hematologic No % No % Test January 16 6 37.5 10 62.5 February 15 7 46.7 8 53.3 March 12 6 50.0 6 50.0 April 15 5 33.3 10 66.7 May 22 8 36.4 14 63.6 June 24 8 33.3 16 66.7 July 28 6 21.4 22 78.6 August 22 8 36.4 14 63.6 September 26 4 15.4 22 84.6 October 18 5 27.8 13 72.2 November 20 7 35.0 13 65.0 December 8 3 37.5 5 62.5 TOTAL 226 73 32.3 153 67.7 Same as with the previous year, almost 67.7% of the total deferred population due to hematologic cause belongs to FEMALE, only 32.3% belongs to MALE category. Table 3.3 Percentage Distribution of deferred blood donors due to hematologic causes as to their gender for the year 2000 Donors GENDER Deferred MALE FEMALE MONTH Hematologic No % No % Test January 18 2 11.1 16 88.9 February 24 5 20.8 19 79.2 March 18 4 22.2 14 77.8 April 21 4 19.0 17 81.0 May 22 6 27.3 16 72.7 June 21 6 28.6 15 71.4 July 19 5 26.3 14 73.7 August 19 7 36.8 12 63.2 September 24 2 8.3 22 91.7 October 15 4 20.0 11 73.3 November 21 6 28.6 15 71.4 December 5 1 0.0 4 80.0 TOTAL 227 52 22.0 175 77.1 Base from the results of the existing years, the female category scored the highest cause of deferred blood donors (as to hematologic cause) giving off 77.1%. The male population deferred as to this category only gives off 22%. Table 3.4 Percentage Distribution of deferred blood donors due to hematologic causes as to their gender for the year 1998, 1999 and 2000 Donors GENDER Deferred MALE FEMALE YEAR Hematologic No % No % Test 1998 242 70 28.9 172 71.1 1999 226 73 32.3 153 67.7 2000 227 52 22.9 175 77.1 695 195 28.1 500 71.9 In summary, for the years 1998-2000, gender played an important role for hematologic causes of blood donor deferral.

The female garnered the highest percentage of deferral with 71.9% of the total deferred population. In contrast, 28.1% of the deferred population belongs to male (gender). Chapter V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY: This study was primarily conducted to determine the leading causes of blood donors deferral as to Hematologic and Serologic cause. Moreover, the gender of the donors were also considered as a basis for the Hematologic cause of blood donor deferral.

The author made use of descriptive method of research, we rein it involved more of the collection of data and processing it with appropriate statistical formula. Moreover, no variables were controlled in this study. In order to come up with a conclusion, the researchers utilized the laboratory records as well as other logbooks. Major Findings Based on the results, most of the donors were deferred due to hematologic causes. Almost 7.7% of the entire blood donors were deferred due to hematologic cause. 6.6 percent were only attributed to serologic causes.

With regards to the serologic causes of blood donor deferral, positive to HBV contributed the highest cause, giving off 91.2% of the total deferred population (due to serologic cause). Positive to Syphillis garnered the second place having 5.3% of the differed donors. HCV achieved the third place and the least cause of blood donor deferral due to serologic cause can be attributed to HIV. Gender played also an important role for the deferral of blood donors. Almost 72% of the population deferred on hematologic cause were females. On the other hand 28% were male.

CONCLUSION The following conclusions were established based on the analysis of the data gathered: 1. Positive HbsAg was the leading serologic cause for donor deferral 2. Among donors rejected due to hematologic causes, females comprise the majority. Recommendation: The following recommendations are offered in light of the findings and conclusion of the study: For the government, it is recommended that thorough campaign - public information drive or educational advocacy should be made so as to broaden the knowledge of every individual about the risk factors as well as basic information with regards to blood-borne diseases particularly Hepatitis B. For the national blood bank organization, it is highly recommended that an in-depth analysis and study be conducted on factors causing blood donor deferral and that necessary measures be adapted so as to alleviate emerging problems. For the universities as well as other educational institutions, awareness among the students regarding blood donation practices should be properly inculcated so as to correct the wrong notions regarding blood donation, thereby, encouraging them to donate blood.