Blood Donation

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate how blood donors' lifestyle and nutritional status influence the quality of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) during storage and their impact on patient safety in transfused neonates and postpartum women. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are donor lifestyle and nutritional profiles associated with the development of storage lesions in pRBCs? 2. Do these donor-related factors influence clinical outcomes after transfusion in neonates and postpartum women? 3. Are storage lesion in pRBCs associated with clinical outcomes in transfused neonates and postpartum women? Researchers will compare pRBC units stratified according to donor lifestyle and nutritional profiles to determine differences in storage lesion biomarkers and post-transfusion clinical outcomes.

A cluster pilot RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of the docudrama compared to a control group (usual engagement with blood services) on repeat blood donation attempts among first-time blood donors. Secondary outcomes will be blood donor retention, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention as potential mediators of blood donation behavior among first-time blood donors. The cluster pilot RCT will have two arms: 1) docudrama and 2) control. Randomization will stratify by the type of site: mobile versus fixed. Each participant in the docudrama arm will receive the intervention one time immediately after blood donation. Participants in both the docudrama arm and control arm will receive standard blood donor communications and will be followed for six months. Actualized blood donation is possible every four months using NBSG guidelines; however, blood donation sessions may not occur at the blood donation sites until six months. Return blood donation attempts will be evaluated using the Southern Zonal Blood Center (SZBC) records (primary outcome) and participant self-report (secondary outcome) at six months. Secondary measures will be evaluated at baseline and six months from enrollment. The duration of the study will be 11 months, allowing for five months to achieve enrollment goals and six months of follow-up for the last individual enrolled.

"Etablissement Français du Sang" (EFS) prepares labile blood products from blood donations that are separated by type (red blood cells, plasma and platelets). The "Centre de Transfusion Sanguine des Armées" (CTSA) produces an innovative labile blood product, LTO-WB, corresponding to group O leukocyte-free whole blood. The objective of the PEDESTAL EFS study is to compare the inflammatory and biological characteristics of blood products prepared by the EFS vs. the labile blood product prepared by the CTSA.