Salicylate and acetaminophen in donated blood.

Blood donors in Canada are asked to volunteer their history of drug ingestion within the previous 24 hours. The authors analysed 400 serum samples from blood donors for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and acetaminophen, two commonly used nonprescription drugs. Although 16 of the samples contained ASA and 10 acetaminophen (2 contained both drugs), none of the donors had volunteered that they had ingested those medications before donating blood. The possible role of these drugs in some of the unexplained reactions to transfusions is considered.