Evaluation of Glucose‑6‑phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Deficiency and Methemoglobin Concentration in Blood Donors in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital‑based Blood Bank

Glucose‑6‑phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency
and methemoglobinemia adversely impact on blood transfusion safety by
significantly increasing blood storage lesion. Objective: To determine G6PD
enzyme deficiency and methemoglobin levels among blood donors in a tertiary
hospital‑based blood bank in Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: One hundred
blood donors who met the criteria for blood donation were prospectively
studied. Two milliliters of venous blood was collected from each participant
into potassium‑ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid specimen containers and
analyzed for G6PD status and methemoglobin levels by spectrophotometry,
on the same day of sample collection. Results: Among the donors, 43%
had normal G6PD activity (9.32 ± 2.26 U/gHb), 44% had partially enzyme
deficiency (4.92 ± 1.33 U/gHb), while 13% had total deficiency (0.47 ± 3.49 U/gHb);
these were statistically different (P < 0.001). Methemoglobin concentration was
elevated in 25% of study participants (3.05 ± 2.30%), while it was normal in
75% (0.99% ± 0.60%); these differences were statistically different (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: A significant proportion of our blood donor set has G6PD enzyme
deficiency (partial or total) as well as evidence of oxidation of hemoglobin; these
findings have adverse implications on transfusion safety.