Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Among Blood Donors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, South West Nigeria

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is the most common red cell enzymopathy globally and may cause acute haemolysis in transfused patients receiving G6PD-deficient blood, raising transfusion medicine safety concerns in Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of G6PD deficiency among blood donors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 voluntary blood donors recruited over a three-month period. G6PD deficiency was screened using the fluorescent spot test, with confirmatory testing by quantitative spectrophotometric assay on positive samples. Sickle cell trait status was also determined by haemoglobin electrophoresis. Demographic information was obtained by questionnaire. The overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency was 9.4%. Male donors showed significantly higher prevalence at 12.7% compared to females at 3.5%, consistent with X-linked inheritance. Yoruba donors had the highest prevalence at 11.2%. Severe deficiency was recorded in 37.9% of G6PD-deficient donors. Co-existence with sickle cell trait was found in 6.1% of deficient donors. The study highlights the public health relevance of G6PD deficiency in the Nigerian blood donor population and recommends incorporation of G6PD screening into routine pre-donation testing to prevent haemolytic transfusion reactions in vulnerable patients, particularly newborns and patients with haemolytic conditions. Keywords: G6PD deficiency, blood donors, haemolysis, transfusion safety, Lagos State