Serum Ferritin and Iron Stores in Blood Donors at a Transfusion Service in Kaduna

Voluntary blood donation is a critical component of safe blood supply in Nigeria, but repeated donations without adequate iron replenishment may lead to iron depletion among regular donors. This study evaluates serum ferritin and iron store status in voluntary blood donors at the National Blood Transfusion Service Centre in Kaduna, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed, recruiting 180 voluntary donors stratified by donation frequency into first-time, occasional, and frequent donor categories. Serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were measured using standard immunoassay and colorimetric methods. Haemoglobin levels, packed cell volume, dietary iron intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire, and supplementation history were also recorded. The study tests whether donation frequency is significantly associated with declining iron stores even in the absence of frank anaemia. Findings will provide evidence for implementing routine ferritin screening of repeat donors in Nigerian blood banks and will support the development of evidence-based inter-donation intervals to safeguard donor health in the North West zone. Keywords: serum ferritin, iron stores, blood donors, donation frequency, Kaduna.