Iron stores of Nigerian blood donors as assessed by serum ferritin concentration.

Haematological indices and parameters of iron status were obtained from 29 normal male subjects and from 32 male blood donors. Percentage saturation of transferrin with iron and the usual erythrocyte parameters of iron status were similar in both group of subjects. The mean ferritin concentration was 64.75 ng/ml +/- 4.6 (SEM) in normal males and 49.19 ng/ml +/- 5.1 (SEM) in the male donors. This difference was statistically significant (p less than .05). Serum ferritin concentration thus appears to be a sensitive index of iron stores. The results also indicate that some blood donors may be pre-latent or latent iron deficient at the time of donation and may manifest as iron deficient after blood donation. Based on these findings, it is suggested that blood donors be given iron supplementation and those who do not meet the minimum screening haemoglobin concentration be further investigated and treated.