[Screening for increased cholesterol values in blood donors].

Objective: In a pilot study blood donors were screened on HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol. The practicability and significance of such a screening in a blood bank should be tested.

Design: For this purpose, current methods to determine HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol were adapted on microtiter plates and validated. In a period of about 4 weeks all blood donors were tested for the three cholesterol parameters.

Setting: Red Cross blood bank in Baden-Baden, Germany with about 150,000 donations per year.

Participants: The HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol results of 10,006 blood donors could be evaluated.

Interventions: None.

Results: The mean total cholesterol was 192 +/- 36 mg/dl, the mean HDL cholesterol 56 +/- 15 mg/dl, and a mean LDL cholesterol of 123 +/- 39 mg/dl was found. The known age-dependency of the measured cholesterol fractions could be confirmed in our blood donor population. According to the current recommendations, more than 20% of the tested blood donors need a therapy.

Conclusions: The study shows that the screening of blood donors for increased total cholesterol for prevention of coronary heart disease could be done with a minimum of costs.