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INTERVAL Study: To Determine Whether the Interval Between Blood Donations in England Can be Safely and Acceptably Decreased

Not Applicable
Conditions
Blood Donation
Interventions
Other: Reduced versus standard intervals between blood donations
Registration Number
NCT01610635
Lead Sponsor
University of Cambridge
Brief Summary

It is hypothesised that the number of donations made by English blood donors will be greater with reduced vs. standard inter-donation intervals. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in donations between treatment groups; this may arise if reduced inter-donation intervals result in a greater number of donation deferrals (due to low haemoglobin) and/or an unacceptable burden to donors.

Detailed Description

50,000 blood donors will be recruited from permanent blood donation centres across England to compare different intervals between blood donations to try to find the optimum interval for which it is safe for different donors to give blood. The study will look at whether intervals should be tailored by age, gender, genetic profile, and other characteristics. Study findings should help to improve the well-being of future blood donors in England and enhance the country's blood supplies.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50000
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Aged 18 years or older and fulfilling all normal criteria for blood donation
  2. Willing to be assigned to any of the study intervention groups
  3. Registered at one of the permanent donation clinics at the time of enrolment
Exclusion Criteria
  • As the aim of the study is to be almost "paper-less", it will involve remote web-based data collection. Hence, participants who do not have internet access and/or are not willing to provide an email address for study correspondence will be excluded.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Male - 8 weeksReduced versus standard intervals between blood donationsMale donors assigned to an 8 week donation interval frequency
Male - 10 weeksReduced versus standard intervals between blood donationsMale donors assigned to 10 week donation interval frequency
Female - 14 weeksReduced versus standard intervals between blood donationsFemale donors assigned to 14 week donation interval frequency
Female - 12 weeksReduced versus standard intervals between blood donationsFemale donors assigned to 12 week donation interval frequency
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total blood collected after two years24 months

Expressed in units (470ml) per person per year

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Donor quality of life24 months

Measured using the SF-36 health survey

Levels of physical activity24 months
Cost effectiveness24 months
Number of donation deferrals24 months

Temporary rejection of donors due to low haemoglobin and other factors

Donor attitudes, beliefs and values24 months
Cognitive ability24 months

Reasoning, attention and memory

Markers of iron status24 months

Serum ferritin and reticulocyte haemoglobin

Trial Locations

Locations (25)

Brentwood Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom

Edgware Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Edgware, Middlesex, United Kingdom

Birmingham Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Bradford Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Bradford, United Kingdom

Bristol Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Bristol, United Kingdom

Cambridge Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Gloucester Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Gloucester, United Kingdom

Lancaster Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Lancaster, United Kingdom

Leeds City Centre Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Leeds, United Kingdom

Leeds Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Leeds, United Kingdom

Liverpool Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Leicester Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Leicester, United Kingdom

Tooting Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

Luton Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Luton, United Kingdom

West End Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

Manchester Norfolk House Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

Manchester Plymouth Grove

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

Newcastle Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Newcastle, United Kingdom

Nottingham Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Plymouth Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Plymouth, United Kingdom

Oxford Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Oxford, United Kingdom

Sheffield Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Southampton Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Southampton, United Kingdom

Stoke Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Stoke, United Kingdom

Poole Blood Donor Centre

🇬🇧

Poole, United Kingdom

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