BackgroundThe prevalence of smokers among blood donors and the effect of smoking on the quality of donated blood have not been extensively explored. In the present study, we determined the prevalence of smoker donors in a large blood bank in Southern Brazil and evaluated the quality of packed red blood cells (RBCs) from these donors through recommended quality control tests and measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels. We then assessed the influence of smoking habits and abstinence before donation on these parameters.Material and methodsAn observational study was conducted to determine the prevalence of smoking donors, while a prospective cohort study compared conventional hematological and serological parameters and COHb levels at 0, 15, and 30 days after donation in RBCs donated by smokers (N = 31) and nonsmokers (N = 31) and their association with smoking habits and abstinence before donation.ResultsOf 14,428 blood donations received in 1 year, 5.9% were provided by smokers. Storage over time slightly altered some quality parameters, such as hematocrit, hemoglobin, hemolysis, and COHb levels, in RBC packs. COHb levels were higher in RBC packs from smokers (8%) than from non-smokers (2%), and increased as a function of the number of cigarettes smoked daily and time elapsed since the last cigarette smoked before donation. Lower levels were found in RBC packs from donors who smoked fewer than 20 cigarettes per day or remained abstinent for more than 12h before giving blood.ConclusionAlthough cigarette smoke had no significant effect on blood quality parameters such as hematocrit, hemoglobin, or hemolysis, it quadrupled COHb levels in packed RBCs. Abstinence from smoking for more than 12h or smoking fewer than 20 cigarettes daily helped decrease COHb levels.ImplicationsGiven the increasing prevalence of tobacco use worldwide, we suggest blood banks recommend 12h of tobacco abstinence before donation and analyze COHb levels in donated blood as an approach to reduce risk for high-risk recipients.

Background and ObjectivesSmokers currently have no defined restrictions for blood donation. However, cigarette smoke contains toxic substances such as carbon monoxide (CO) and trace elements that can affect the packed red blood cells (PRBCs) quality and safety of transfusion. This study evaluated the effects of smoking on the concentration of essential and trace elements and on carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in PRBCs from smoker donors. Materials and MethodsA matched case-control study was conducted to compare COHb levels, determined by the CO-oximetry method, and levels of trace (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, As and Hg) and essential (Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn) elements evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, in PRBCs from smoker (n = 36) and non-smoker (n = 36) donors at Hospital de Cl ınicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.Results Mean COHb level was 14 times higher in the PRBCs obtained from smoker donors (5Á9 [4Á0-9Á1] vs. 0Á4 [0Á2-0Á8]%). Cadmium (1Á0 [1Á0-1Á8] lg/l vs. undetectable) and lead (27 [21-36] vs. 19 [14-26] lg/l) levels were significantly higher in the PRBCs from smokers. Moreover, except for molybdenum, levels of all essential elements were lower in smoker PRBCs. ConclusionThe PRBCs donated by smokers contain toxic elements that are probably not safe for transfusion in children. Our results might support changes in the current guidelines of blood banks to improve the transfusion safety through inclusion of inquiry about smoking in the clinical screening, labelling and reserve PRBCs from smoker donors for adults or less critical recipients.

Dentre as hepatites virais, a hepatite C (HCV) constitui um significativo problema de saúde pública, havendo a necessidade de testes de triagem cada vez mais eficazes na detecção do HCV, a fim de aumentar a segurança do sangue doado. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo comparar a eficácia da triagem para HCV entre as metodologias utilizadas pelo hemocentro, verificando, ainda, a possível ocorrência de redução da janela imunológica após a introdução da metodologia de teste de ácidos nucleicos (NAT). O estudo foi realizado por meio de avaliação retrospectiva de planilhas de registro sorológico de 12.443 doadores de sangue triados no período de julho de 2014 a junho de 2015 para o vírus HCV no Hemocentro Regional de Passo Fundo – Hemopasso. Dos possíveis doadores de sangue avaliados, 45 indivíduos (0,36%) apresentaram anti-HCV CMIA inconclusivo com resultado do NAT indetectável. Apenas 7 (0,05%) dos candidatos à doação de sangue apresentaram anti-HCV reagente pela metodologia CMIA e NAT detectável. Não foi observada qualquer detecção no período de janela imunológica do HCV pelo teste NAT. Não houve nenhum resultado falso-positivo pela metodologia CMIA. Assim, as metodologias CMIA e NAT utilizadas em associação são de extrema importância para o esclarecimento de possíveis falsos resultados, essenciais para a diminuição do risco de contaminações pós-transfusionais.