Monetary blood donation incentives and the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection

Many transfusion-transmissible viruses are found in paid donors at higher rates than in volunteer donors, and patients receiving blood from volunteer donors have fewer transfusion-transmitted infections. These findings have been reported by studies in many countries over several decades. The increased risk of infectious disease is not balanced by a demonstrated need to pay donors to ensure their availability. Unrelated, anonymous, altruistic blood donors are willing to help others without financial gain and can be utilized to keep the risk of transfusion- transmitted infection as low as possible.