Polycythaemia and Raised Haemoglobin

Must not donate.

If specialist investigation has excluded Polycythaemia Rubra Vera, or another myeloproliferative neoplasm, and no treatment or further investigation is planned, the donor can be accepted for whole blood donation or for double red cell donation. Donors with a haemoglobin above the normal range should not usually be accepted for plasma or platelet donation.

Cardiovascular Disease
Haematological Disease
Haemoglobin Disorders
Haemoglobin Estimation
Respiratory Disease

In men, haemoglobin concentrations in excess of 180 g/l or red cell counts in excess of 6.5 x 10¹² and in women, haemoglobin concentrations in excess of 165 g/l or red cell counts in excess of 5.6 x 10¹² should be repeated. If found to be persistently raised the donor should not be accepted and referred for investigation.

Polycythaemia is commonly linked to malignant or pre-malignant conditions or to the body's response to a shortage of oxygen. Apparent polycythaemia is caused by a decreased plasma volume. All of these are reasons not to accept a donation, either because of the association with malignancy, or because of the potential to harm the donor.

Individuals with 'high affinity' haemoglobins can develop polycythaemia because of the reduced oxygen carrying capacity of their blood. This would be detrimental to a recipient of their blood and donation may be harmful to the donor. For these reasons they should not be accepted

Clarification of the suitable donation types for donors with a haemoglobin above the normal range has been added.

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.