English Abstract Under certain conditions blood donor data could be one
of the sources of information on the spread of HIV in the general population
in the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad, 1989). The conditions under which such
investigations should be undertaken are the subject of this study. In
preparation of future behavioral studies amongst the donor population and
the general population a survey was carried out, in the region of the Red
Cross Blood Bank Groningen-Drenthe NL, on blood donor data over the period
'83-'89. This report includes a description of all subjects who ceased to
be donor in the period '83-'89, their demographic characteristics (age,
gender, city of residence), and the reasons given for quitting the blood
donor pool. We conclude that routinely collected Blood Bank data provide
detailed information on the annual resignations and deferrals among blood
donors, and on the demographic characteristics of this group. These data
can serve as a basis for planning behavioral studies in both populations.
In addition there are possibilities to analyze the differences between
'active' donors and donors who withdrew, because the data required for such
analyses had to be collected for the present study. Given the proportion of
resignations because of a risk factor (1,5% of all resignations) and with
'unknown' risk factor (70% of all resignations) no firm conclusions can be
drawn on the issue whether the donor population is selected on (low) risk
behaviour for HIV. The quality of routinely collected blood donor data must
be improved by prospective registration of (reasons for) resignations and
the adaption of uniform procedures across the country.
