What is the minimum acceptable hemoglobin for allogeneic blood donors?

• A. 12.0 g/dL
• B. 12.3 g/dL
• C. 12.5 g/dL
• D. 13.0 g/dL

Answer: (C)

Maintaining enough hemoglobin in a donor is essential for donor safety and for ensuring the collected blood has a usable red cell mass. A uniform minimum of 12.5 g/dL is used as the eligibility threshold for allogeneic donations because it protects donors from becoming anemic after donation while still not being so strict that it unnecessarily defers healthy people. Using a lower value like 12.0 g/dL would allow more people to donate but increases the risk of donor symptoms; a higher value like 13.0 g/dL would exclude many potential donors and reduce the blood supply. Therefore, 12.5 g/dL is the best-balanced standard.