TEHRAN –The country’s blood storage has increased from four days to eight days, Mostafa Jamali, CEO of the Blood Transfusion Organization, has said.

By offering molecular screening tests, viral agents such as HIV can be detected in less than three or four days, IRNA quoted Jamali as saying.

Currently, the country’s blood and blood products have been fully provided with no blood supply shortage, he said, adding that the blood storage has reached from four days to eight days, he added.

He went on to say that a total of 2.7 million people voluntarily donate blood yearly. “Some 2.22 million individuals donated blood last year.”

4% increase in last 9 months

Blood donation in Iran increased by more than four percent in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year which started in March 2023 compared to the same period last year.

A total of 1,759,734 Iranians donated blood over the mentioned period, IRNA quoted Bashir Haji-Beigi, the Blood Transfusion Organization spokesman, as saying.

He went on to say that the highest blood donation growth was recorded in Lorestan, North Khorasan, and Kerman provinces with 29 percent, 20 percent, and 13 percent rise, respectively, IRNA reported.

The continuous blood donation growth rate in the country is around 54 percent, he said, adding that the provinces of Semnan, Yazd, and Golestan hold the highest rates with 69 percent, 64 percent, and 63 percent, respectively.

Referring to over four percent of women's share of blood donation in the country, he said: "Women should get more involved in blood donation than in the past."

Continuous and regular blood donation (at least twice a year) has increased slightly to 53 percent in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year, as 527,385 units of blood were donated by regular donors, the official noted.

MT/MG