THE number of blood donors has declined slightly since January, but more blood has been donated because fewer individuals were rejected, according to figures released by the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
About 80,384 attended the board's clinics during the first seven months of this year compared with 81,183 during the same period in 1995. But there were 70,693 donations accepted during the period in 1996 compared to 69,532 last year.
Donors are screened using questionnaires and some are asked not to contribute on medical grounds. While 14.3 per cent of offers were deferred between January and July 1995, this had fallen to 12 per cent during the same period in 1996.
The fall in the number of donors is not a matter of concern, said the board's chief executive officer, Mr Liam Dunbar.