The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) announced today (May 21) that new hemoglobin requirements for blood donors will take effect from May 27. The minimum hemoglobin level for female donors will be raised from 11.5 grams per decilitre (g/dL) to 12.0 g/dL, with the upper limit staying at 16.5 g/dL. The range for male donors will remain unchanged at 13.0 to 18.0 g/dL.
The change has been approved by the Hospital Authority’s Expert Panel on Blood and Products Safety. According to the BTS, the update aims to better protect donor health, especially for female donors, who are more prone to iron deficiency.
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron is necessary for producing hemoglobin. Each time someone donates blood, they lose red blood cells, which makes it important for donors—especially frequent ones—to restore their iron levels.
The Department of Health’s 2024 Thematic Report on Iron Status shows that women in Hong Kong are more likely to suffer from iron deficiency than men. In response, the BTS is stepping up education efforts to help donors maintain healthy iron levels.
As part of this effort, the BTS recently launched a new video series titled “Iron Feast 2.0.” The campaign promotes the importance of eating iron-rich foods and maintaining a balanced diet to help boost iron levels and support overall health.
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