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BACKGROUND: There have been multiple reports concerning the predictors of fainting reactions in blood donors, but few attempts to reduce the rates of fainting reactions with concomitant rigorous attempts to monitor the success of the interventions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a retrospective observational cohort study design, comparing the likelihood of reaction from 213,031 allogeneic whole blood donations made by 17- to 22-year-old donors in two separate 12-month periods before and after the implementation of interventions to reduce reactions. The interventions were 1) a limit on the maximum percentage of estimated blood volume young donors could donate, 2) encouraging applied muscle tension during donation, and 3) providing approximately 500 mL of water before donation. Reactions were defined by severity and time in relation to the end of phlebotomy and documented according to standard procedures. Data analysis included comparison of stratified reaction rates and multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The interventions decreased the aggregate reaction rates in male and female donors by 24% (p

BACKGROUND: Blood donation is safe, but a small proportion of donors have delayed and/or off-site reactions that have the potential to lead to serious injury. This retrospective study sought to identify risk factors for delayed reactions (DRs). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The records of 793,293 allogeneic whole blood and apheresis donations in 2007 were assessed for vasovagal reactions. Donor demographic, biometric, and clinical measurements were captured. Incidents related to needle insertion and mild reactions were excluded. Based on the reaction onset time relative to the procedure end time, reactions were classified as delayed (>15 min) or immediate (≤15 min). Reactions were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression comparing donors with immediate reactions (IRs) or DRs to donors without reactions and comparing donors with DRs to IRs. The clinical consequences of off-site and on-site reactions are reported. RESULTS: The prevalence of reactions classified as moderate or severe was 41 in 10,000 donations; 24% of these reactions were delayed and 12% occurred off-site. DRs were associated with female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.21-3.96) and with low estimated blood volume (EBV; OR, 3.91; 96% CI, 2.84-5.51). Off-site reactions, particularly in female donors, were more likely to be associated with a fall, with head trauma, with other injury, and with the use of outside medical care. CONCLUSION: Low EBV, youth, and first-time donor status are major risk factors for IRs and DRs. Women are more likely than men to report DRs. Delayed and off-site reactions lead to potentially preventable morbidity. Understanding the physiologic basis of DRs may lead to the development of appropriate interventions to reduce their likelihood.