Introduction.Nowadays, there is a significant shortage of donated blood in the world. According to the recommendations of the WHO, adequate and reliable supply of sale donated blood can only be carried out on the base of regular voluntary non-paid donations. This particular category of donations is the safest from the point of view of the prospect of having infectious diseases that can be transmitted through blood. 

The aim to investigate the main biochemical parameters that characterize iron metabolism in primary blood donors.

Materials and methods. The methodological basis of this research is a systematic approach, which allowed to study the biochemical processes by iron metabolism in plasma donors. The study included 125 primary blood donors who donated in Kyiv City Blood Center. All donors were examined pursuant to the Medical Examination Procedure for Donors of Blood and (or) its Components approved by Decree of the Health Ministry of Ukraine № 385 dated 01.08.2005 – On Infectious Safety o Donor Blood and its Components  as donors whose blood is used for production of components.

Determination of serum iron was performed according to beta-phenantroline method. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was evaluated by transferrin (TF) saturation with three-valence iron.  Unsaturated (latent) iron binding capacity (UIBC) was calculated as difference between TIBC and iron concentration. Transferrin saturation coefficient (TSC) was calculated as serum iron (SI)/TIBC ratio.  Serum TF was determined by TIBC value. Serum ferritin (FN) was evaluated by radioimmunoassay technique using ИРМО-ФЕРРИТИН set (Belarus). Statistical processing of the obtained data was conducted using the methods of variation statistics using a computer program Microsoft Excel XP.   

Results. This review deals with up-to-date methods of the laboratory diagnostics if iron deficient (ID). Some ideas of iron metabolism in an organism and pathogenetic mechanisms of clinical and laboratory symptoms are briefly presented. The diagnostic value of laboratory methods for diagnosing ID is interpreted. 

Conclusions. A conclusion is drawn about the integrated approach to the diagnostics of ID of blood donor diagnostics. The results of the study have been used to develop practical recommendations for Kyiv City Blood Center regarding the strategy for recruiting and retaining blood donors, who make voluntary non-paid donations.

Keywords: blood donors, donation, iron, biochemical parameter, primary blood donors.