Repeat whole blood donors with a ferritin level of 30 mu g/L or less show functional iron depletion

摘要

BACKGROUND: Whole blood donors are screened for iron depletion through hemoglobin measurement alone or in combination with ferritin. Ferritin measurement gives the advantage of earlier detection of iron depletion. In a previous study we identified a ferritin level of 30 mu g/L or less as a possible indicator of suboptimal erythropoiesis. In this study, erythropoietic parameters were measured to determine if a ferritin level of 30 mu g/L or less is indicative of iron-deficient erythropoiesis in repeat whole blood donors.