Donor Selection: The Donor History Questionnaire
Continuing Education Credits
Objectives
- Explain the different types of donor deferrals.
- Determine donor eligibility based on the answer to each question on the donor history questionnaire.
- Recall deferral periods based on donor response to questions on the donor history questionnaire.
Course Outline
- Introduction
- Introduction
- General Donation Requirements
- Age and Weight Requirements
- Blood Pressure, Temperature, and Pulse Requirements
- Hemoglobin/Hematocrit Requirements
- Donor History Questionnaire
- Overview
- DHQ Structure
- Deferral Types
- Questions #1 – 4: General Health/Antibiotics and Medications for Infection
- Question #5: Medication Deferral List
- Question #6: Educational Materials
- All of the following are cause for deferral from donating blood or blood products except:
- True or False: A person taking an antibiotic for preventative measures may be allowed to donate blood during the course of their antibiotic regimen.
- Question #7: Aspirin
- Question #8: Previous Donation
- Questions #9 and 10: Vaccinations and Close Contact with Smallpox Vaccine Recipient
- AABB Vaccine Deferral Recommendations
- What is the correct deferral period for someone who has received a chickenpox or shingles vaccine today?
- The AABB makes several recommendations for donor deferral periods following certain vaccinations. Some vaccines do not have any deferral period, as long as the donor remains asymptomatic and afebrile following vaccination. Which of the following vaccines do not require a deferral period?
- Alex arrives at the blood donation center today to donate a unit of whole blood. Alex took an aspirin last night for a headache. Is Alex eligible to donate blood today?
- True or False: Cameron arrives at the blood donation center and fills out the Donor History Questionnaire with a donor historian. Cameron says that they have been in close contact in the last 8 weeks with someone who received the smallpox vaccine. Cameron denies any symptoms or new skin lesions. Because of the exposure, the donor historian should defer Cameron from donating blood products today.
- Question #11: Oral HIV Prevention Medication
- Questions #12 – 14: New Sexual Contacts and HIV
- Questions #15 – 18: Sexual Contact
- True or False: Jordan had a needlestick exposure at work 2 months ago from a patient with an unknown, but high-risk HIV status. Jordan took post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent possible HIV infection and finished the oral regimen 30 days ago. Jordan tested negative for HIV at the time of exposure and again after finishing PEP. Jordan may donate blood products today.
- In which of the following cases would a donor be deferred from donating blood products?
- Question #19: Syphilis or Gonorrhea
- Questions #20 and 21: Hepatitis Close Contacts
- Questions #22 and 23: Contact with Blood and Accidental Needlesticks
- Questions #24 and 25: Tattoos and Piercings
- You have been living with a person who has hepatitis B but moved out 2 months ago and now live alone. How long are you deferred from donating blood or blood products?
- After collecting a blood specimen, a healthcare worker had an accidental needlestick with the needle used for the venipuncture. This occurred 1 month ago. How much longer would this person need to wait to be eligible to donate blood?
- Questions #26 – 28: Blood Transfusions, Transplants, and Grafts
- Question #29: Double Red Donation
- Question #30: Incarceration
- Question #31: Injectable HIV Prevention
- Question #32: Travel Outside the United States or Canada
- Questions #33 and 34: HIV
- Question #35: History of Pregnancy
- Question #36: Malaria
- Match the condition with the appropriate donor deferral period for a whole blood donation.
- Question #37: Dura Mater Grafts or Xenotransplantation
- Question #38: Cancer
- Question #39: Heart or Lung Problems
- Question #40: Bleeding Conditions
- Question #41: Babesia
- Additional Questions
- Final Comments
- Recent Revisions to the DHQ
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists and technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Author Information:
Rory Huschka, M.Ed., MT(ASCP), has over 20 years of combined experience as a Medical Technologist, Technical Supervisor, Manager, Professor, and Program Director. He is the former Director of the Clinical Laboratory Science and Medical Laboratory Technician Programs at Brookline College. He is currently a content developer at MediaLab. Rory holds a BS degree in Medical Technology from North Dakota State University and a Master's in Educational Leadership. He also holds a certificate in Lean/Six Sigma training from Villanova University.
Chelsea Flatley, MLS(ASCP)CM received her B.S. in Medical Technology from the University at Buffalo and holds licensure in the state of New York. She has over seven years of experience working in a diverse array of laboratory settings and departments across New York, thanks largely to her five-year career as a travel medical laboratory scientist. Chelsea currently holds a position in a molecular diagnostics lab.
Reviewer Information:
Matthew Hukill, MBA, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, SBBCM, currently works in an Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) at the American Red Cross in Durham, NC. He serves as a trainer and an instructor in addition to testing donors and patients. His previous experience includes managing an IRL and working in Transfusion Services in several large hospital systems.