New Sanquin policy improves blood donors' iron levels

On World Blood Donor Day 2024, Sanquin Researchers Katja van den Hurk and Amber Meulenbeld publish their study on ferritin-guided donation intervals in The Lancet.

Their trial in whole blood donors, the FIND’EM study, shows that ferritin-guided donation intervals lead to significantly higher hamoglobin (Hb) and ferritin levels and significantly less iron deficiency and fewer Hb deferrals.

Previously, only Hb levels were monitored, which proved to be insufficient to ensure proper iron reserves. Since 2017 Sanquin gradually implemented ferritin-guided donation intervals as their policy in a way that enabled a systematic evaluation of its effects.

The world-wide impact of the study is acknowledged in the same issue of The Lancet by a comment from an independent scientist. They praise the courage to undertake this laborious study on a highly relevant topic, requiring commitment from the entire organization.

Read the paper in The Lancet