[Are our blood donors in danger of iron deficiency?].

In blood donors the question arises for eventual endangering by iron deficiency. The results of this work show that ferritin determinations for blood donors will indicate a latent, in some cases a manifest iron deficiency. The examination of testing components such as PVC, MCH, Fe i. S., transferrin and transferrin saturation produced no special advantages concerning sensitivity and specificity, in terms of ferritin determination. It is indispensable, however, to know the ferritin value because the control of the Hb value prior to blood donation will usually characterize the blood donor's situation in a sufficient manner. For control purposes it is possible to use capillary or venous blood. It is only in general, but particularly in special clinical situations that you have to be aware of the blood donor's condition concerning his/her Fe-metabolism.