Bruise, hematoma, blood donation

Status: 
Ready to upload
Record number: 
1507
Adverse Occurrence type: 
MPHO Type: 
Estimated frequency: 
22.7%
Time to detection: 
3 weeks
Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence: 
Donors were contacted 3 weeks after donation and asked specific questions about adverse events that developed after blood donation; the symptoms could have developed anytime between donation and the phone interview at 3 weeks. All symptoms were subjective; the adverse events were not self reported but were evoked by a specific query.
Demonstration of imputability or root cause: 
Imputability is difficult to establish as the adverse event was not self reported but was evoked by asking a specific question to prompt the donor to recall specific adverse events.
Imputability grade: 
1 Possible
Groups audience: 
Reference attachment: 
Suggest references: 
Newman, B.H., Pichette, S., Pichette, D. and Dzaka, E. (2003). Adverse effects in blood donors after whole-blood donation: a study of 1000 blood donors interviewed 3 weeks after whole-blood donation. Transfusion 43(5): 598-603.
Expert comments for publication: 
1000 donors were contacted by telephone 3 weeks after blood donation and asked specific queries to determine if they developed adverse events after the donation which were not reported prior to leaving the donation site. The questions posed to the donors were very specific (for example, did you develop a bruise?) as well as open-ended (for example, did you develop any arm problems after your last donation?). The rate of adverse events was lower for repeat than first time donors and for male than for female donors; more female donors were interviewed, possibly because of phone access during the day.