TEHRAN – World Health Organization Representative Jafar Hussein praised the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization’s efforts and expertise in serving patients with rare blood types.
The official also praised IBTO’s service in providing healthy blood to Iranian and Afghan refugees on a voluntary basis, according to IRIB news agency.
The WHO representative made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking at a ceremony held to commemorate National Rare Blood Day. The official went on to announce that WHO stands ready to collaborate with IBTO in providing services to patients with rare blood disorders.
According to IBTO official Mehdi Karbassian, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization currently has about 358 units of rare blood in frozen storage, of which 100 units are extremely rare.
Rare blood units are frozen at temperatures between -60 and -70 °C and can be stored for 10 years.
IBTO is the WHO Regional Training Organization
As of 2024, IBTO spokesperson Bashir Hadji Beighi said IBTO is still known as the World Health Organization’s regional training institute in transfusion medicine.
Haji Beygi said they are implementing nucleic acid testing (NAT), a molecular technique to screen blood donations to reduce the risk of infection through blood transfusions. Antibody screening to ensure recipient and donor blood are compatible to prevent complications from blood transfusions. Genetic sequencing using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) to check histocompatibility and facilitate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients has also been on the agenda since last year. This is one of the activities.
4.7% increase compared to the previous year
A total of 2,327,997 Iranians donated blood in the past Iranian calendar year (March 2023-March 2024), an increase of 4.7% compared to the previous year.
Tehran and Fars provinces made the most donations, accounting for more than 16% and 7% of the total blood donations, respectively, IRNA quoted Hadjibeigi as saying.
Last year, Lorestan province recorded the highest increase in blood donations at 22%, followed by North Khorasan province at 16%, and Kogilye and Boyer Ahmad provinces at about 13%.
Last year, the overall blood donation rate in the country exceeded 54%, with the highest rates in Semnan (69%), Yazd (64%), and Qom (63%).
The proportion of women in blood donations represented 4%. A total of 102,907 women donated blood, an increase compared to the previous year. However, women are expected to participate more in donating blood.
Lorestan province had the highest contribution of women at 9%, followed by North Khorasan province with about 8% and Sistan-Baluchestan province with over 7%.
Last year, the blood donation rate reached 27 people per 1,000 people. The highest rate was recorded in Mazandaran province, where more than 40,000 people donated blood. Semnan province had more than 39,000 people, and Yazd province came in second and third place.
MT/MG