Do volunteer donors decrease posttranfusion hepattis?

P. W. Holley, G. C. Glenn and B. Y. Linkenhoker

A change from a paid to a volunteer blood donor system was instituted as recommended by the American Association of Blood Banks "Statement on the National Blood Policy." The incidence of counterelectrophoresis HBSAg positive units from each donor group was determined. Of 2,785 purchased units, 3 (0.10%) were HBSAg positive, while 34 (0.94%) of 3,609 units from volunteers were HBSAg positive. This 840% increase suggests that careful selection of donor population rather than blind reliance on volunteers should be emphasized in providing the safest blood for transfusion.