Few people are eligible to donate blood

Abstract

Welcome to Public Health Moment from the University of Minnesota. Only 37 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood—much fewer than previous estimates. That’s according to a study co-authored by Bill Riley, a healthcare management professor at the University of Minnesota. <clip: “What we have been able to establish is…especially at the times when it is least expected.”> Riley says that the conventional method for estimating the number of eligible blood donors used age as the only criterion. But, in reality, a number of other factors can lead to ineligibility, such as high-risk sexual behavior, chronic health conditions, and travel to foreign countries. <clip: “It’s been well known that...are protecting the donor.”> Riley collaborated on the study with the University of Minnesota Medical School researchers. With another Public Health Moment, I’m John Finnegan.