Is Screening of Blood Donors for G6PD Deficiency and Hemoglobinopathies a Necessity for Transfusion Medicine in India?

Blood is a highly essential and valuable life saving human tissue. It plays a major role in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to different body parts and subsequently in the collection and transport of gaseous wastes from the body. A blood donor is a person who donates blood to a relative, friend or unknown patient as a voluntary/non-remunerated or remunerated donor, and renders an important human service to the society. The blood of donors is rigorously screened for infection or contamination such as hepatitis, malaria, HIV, and ABO or Rhesus blood group compatibility, etc. prior to transfusion, but no test is being performed for the detection of β-thalassemia, hemoglobin disorders or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency in India. This study was designed to find the magnitude of hemoglobin disorders, β-thalassemia, and G6PD deficiency among 208 randomly selected blood donors aged 18 to 45 years in a Blood Bank at a tertiary hospital in eastern coast of southern Odisha. The prevalence of hemolytic disorders such as β-thalassemia trait and G6PD deficiency was observed to be 3.9% in each case, among the blood donors of coastal Odisha. These findings are consistent with those hereditary studies conducted elsewhere. Both these genetic disorders cause severe hemolytic anemia in malaria endemic region of Odisha. Screening of blood donors for hemoglobin disorders including β-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and G6PD deficiency should be introduced urgently along with other screening criteria in Blood Banks and should be made mandatory prior to blood transfusion in India and in tropical and subtropical countries of the world. This will act as a safe measure and reduce risky complications among recipient patients to mitigate the sufferings of needy persons in India and elsewhere.

Keywords: Blood donor screening, Transfusion medicine, Hemoglobin disorders, G6PD Deficiency, Hemolytic anemia, Coastal Odisha, India.