Which pre-donation finding allows an allogeneic whole blood donor to proceed?

Oral temperature 37.3 °C (99.1 °F)

Hemoglobin 12.8 g/dL (128 g/L) in a male donor

A prospective donor got a tattoo at a party 6 weeks ago, with equipment shared among several people. Under current FDA guidance, the donor should be:

Deferred until 3 months after the tattoo

Deferred until 12 months after the tattoo

A donor takes finasteride for prostate enlargement. Why does this drug cause a temporary deferral?

It can harm a male fetus if the blood is given to a pregnant woman

It causes false-positive infectious disease tests

It destroys platelet function in the unit

Donors: qualification and deferral

9 ASCP MLS practice questions on Donors: qualification and deferral, part of Blood Banking. The first 9 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
Which pre-donation finding allows an allogeneic whole blood donor to proceed?
1. APulse 108 beats/min
2. BBlood pressure 186/94 mmHg
3. CHemoglobin 12.8 g/dL (128 g/L) in a male donor
4. DOral temperature 37.3 °C (99.1 °F)
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Answer: D · Oral temperature 37.3 °C (99.1 °F)
The donor's temperature must not exceed 37.5 °C (99.5 °F), so 37.3 °C is acceptable. The pulse should be 50 to 100 beats/min, systolic pressure 180 mmHg or less and diastolic 100 mmHg or less. Male donors need a hemoglobin of at least 13.0 g/dL. These checks protect the donor and help exclude donors with an active infection.
- A: A pulse of 108 is above the upper limit of 100 beats/min.
- B: A systolic pressure of 186 mmHg is above the limit of 180 mmHg.
- C: Male donors need at least 13.0 g/dL (130 g/L).
Question 2 · Medium
A prospective donor got a tattoo at a party 6 weeks ago, with equipment shared among several people. Under current FDA guidance, the donor should be:
1. ADeferred permanently
2. BDeferred until 3 months after the tattoo
3. CAccepted today
4. DDeferred until 12 months after the tattoo
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Answer: B · Deferred until 3 months after the tattoo
A tattoo or piercing done with possibly unsterile equipment carries a risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection. FDA guidance defers such donors for 3 months from the tattoo, which covers the window period of today's nucleic acid tests. The deferral was shortened from 12 months in 2020. After 3 months the donor can be accepted if otherwise eligible.
- A: A tattoo causes only a temporary deferral.
- C: Accepting today ignores the risk from shared equipment within the window period.
- D: Twelve months was the deferral before FDA shortened it to 3 months in 2020.
Question 3 · Medium
A donor takes finasteride for prostate enlargement. Why does this drug cause a temporary deferral?
1. AIt can harm a male fetus if the blood is given to a pregnant woman
2. BIt causes false-positive infectious disease tests
3. CIt hemolyzes stored red cells
4. DIt destroys platelet function in the unit
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Answer: A · It can harm a male fetus if the blood is given to a pregnant woman
Finasteride and dutasteride block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and are teratogenic. A pregnant recipient could expose a male fetus to the drug. Donors are deferred for 1 month after the last dose of finasteride and 6 months after dutasteride. Isotretinoin and acitretin are deferred for the same reason.
- B: Finasteride does not interfere with donor screening tests.
- C: The drug does not damage stored red cells.
- D: Finasteride has no effect on platelets; aspirin is the drug that matters for platelet donors.
Question 4 · Easy
The minimum hemoglobin for a female allogeneic whole blood donor under current FDA rules is:
1. A12.0 g/dL (120 g/L)
2. B11.0 g/dL (110 g/L)
3. C13.0 g/dL (130 g/L)
4. D12.5 g/dL (125 g/L)
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Answer: D · 12.5 g/dL (125 g/L)
FDA requires at least 12.5 g/dL (or a hematocrit of 38%) for female allogeneic donors and at least 13.0 g/dL (hematocrit 39%) for male donors. The check is made before every donation, usually on a fingerstick sample. A donor below the limit is deferred temporarily, not permanently. Autologous donors have a lower limit of 11.0 g/dL.
- A: 12.0 g/dL is below the FDA minimum for female allogeneic donors.
- B: 11.0 g/dL is the minimum for autologous donors, not allogeneic donors.
- C: 13.0 g/dL is the minimum for male donors.
Question 5 · Easy
How long must an allogeneic donor wait between two whole blood donations?
1. A16 weeks (112 days)
2. B8 weeks (56 days)
3. C12 weeks (84 days)
4. D4 weeks (28 days)
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Answer: B · 8 weeks (56 days)
A whole blood donor may give again after 8 weeks (56 days). The interval lets the donor replace the red cells and iron lost with about 500 mL of blood. Double red cell (2-unit) apheresis donors must wait 16 weeks. Frequent donors, especially young women, are at risk of iron depletion even within these rules.
- A: 16 weeks is the interval after a double red cell apheresis donation.
- C: 12 weeks is not a US donation interval.
- D: 4 weeks is too short to replace the red cells lost in a whole blood donation.
Question 6 · Hard
Under the FDA's individual risk-based donor questions (2023), which history requires a 3-month deferral?
1. AA negative HIV test result last month
2. BA man in a monogamous relationship with another man for 5 years
3. CA new sexual partner and anal sex, both in the past 3 months
4. DA sexual partner who received hepatitis B vaccine
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Hard
A donor lived in a malaria-endemic country until moving to the United States 2 years ago and has not travelled since. She has never had malaria. What is the correct decision?
1. ADefer her permanently
2. BAccept her today
3. CDefer for 3 months from her arrival
4. DDefer until 3 years after she left the endemic country
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Medium
A donor took aspirin 24 hours ago. This matters most if the donor is giving:
1. AApheresis platelets
2. BPlasma by apheresis
3. CWhole blood for red cells
4. DDouble red cells by apheresis
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Hard
A 34-year-old woman comes to donate whole blood. Screening: weight 61 kg (134 lb); temperature 37.2 °C (99.0 °F); pulse 78/min and regular; blood pressure 126/80 mm Hg; fingerstick hemoglobin 12.7 g/dL (127 g/L). Her last whole blood donation was 9 weeks ago. Ten days ago she had a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for a new hospital job, and 3 weeks ago she took her last dose of isotretinoin for acne. She feels well and reports no other medicines, travel or illness. Using the AABB donor history deferral periods, the correct decision is:
1. AAccept her, because every finding meets the criteria
2. BDefer her because her hemoglobin is below the limit
3. CDefer her until 1 month after the last isotretinoin dose
4. DDefer her until 4 weeks after the MMR vaccine
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

Donors: qualification and deferral

Which pre-donation finding allows an allogeneic whole blood donor to proceed?

A prospective donor got a tattoo at a party 6 weeks ago, with equipment shared among several people. Under current FDA guidance, the donor should be:

A donor takes finasteride for prostate enlargement. Why does this drug cause a temporary deferral?

The minimum hemoglobin for a female allogeneic whole blood donor under current FDA rules is:

How long must an allogeneic donor wait between two whole blood donations?

Under the FDA's individual risk-based donor questions (2023), which history requires a 3-month deferral?

A donor lived in a malaria-endemic country until moving to the United States 2 years ago and has not travelled since. She has never had malaria. What is the correct decision?

A donor took aspirin 24 hours ago. This matters most if the donor is giving: