Imoru Momodu^1*, Sani Abdulkadir², Isah Suleiman Yahaya³ and Erhabor Osaro⁴

Background: The regular supply of blood is necessary in every health facility in order to treat patients requiring transfusions and save millions of lives through blood transfusions. The aim of this study was to determine the haematological and biochemical parameters of family replacement donors since they are the major source of blood donors in Northern Nigeria.
Materials and methods: Two-hundred and twenty-eight family replacement donors, aged 18-54 years, were recruited from Federal Medical Centre and Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, Zamfara State for the determination of haematocrit, haemoglobin, RBC count, MCH, MCV, MCHC, serum iron, serum ferritin and TIBC using standard techniques.
Results: The values of haematocrit, haemoglobin, RBC count, MCH, MCV and MCHC were 38.8 ± 3.6%, 12.6±1.3 g / dL, 5.3 ± 0.56 X 1012 / L, 23.9±2.0 pg, 73.6±6.2 fl, 32.6±2.5 g / dL, respectively while the levels of serum iron, serum ferritin and TIBC were 15.3±5.2 µmol / L, 69.4±45.1 ng / ml, 45.5±15.4 µmol / L, respectively in family replacement donors. Age had no significant effect on the values of haematocrit, haemoglobin, RBC count, MCH, MCV, MCHC, serum iron, serum ferritin and TIBC (P ? 0.05).
Conclusion: Family replacement donors should be encouraged for blood donation since they have the values of haematological and biochemical parameters that are within the reference ranges of healthy individuals. By doing this, there will be sufficient units of blood in the blood banks to accommodate unexpected and emergency cases, resulting in reduction in death rate associated with non-availability of blood for transfusion.

Cite this Article: Imoru M, Abdulkadir S, Yahaya IS, Osaro E. Assessment of Some Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Family Replacement Blood Donors in Gusau, Nigeria. Int J Blood Dis Dis. 2018; 2(1): 001-004.

Published: 17 May 2018