Iron-Related Biomarkers and Red Cell Indices as Predictors of PBSC Collection Outcomes in Healthy Allogeneic Donors.

Efficient peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection from healthy donors is essential for transplantation success and donor safety. While hemoglobin is routinely used in donor evaluation, the contribution of iron-related biomarkers and red cell indices to predicting collection outcomes remains incompletely defined. In this retrospective cohort study, 143 healthy PBSC donors undergoing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mediated mobilization and apheresis were evaluated. Baseline hematologic parameters and iron-related biomarkers were analyzed in relation to weight-adjusted total CD34+ cell yield using correlation, threshold-based analyses, and multivariable modeling. The median donor age was 32 years, and 70.6% were male. The overall median CD34+ yield was 5.41 × 106/kg. Ferritin negatively correlated with CD34+ yield in male donors (r = -0.22, p = 0.027). In female donors, folate levels and red cell distribution width showed positive correlations with collection outcomes (r = 0.342, p = 0.027; r = 0.322, p = 0.037). The Mentzer index demonstrated an inverse association with CD34+ yield across both sexes. Transferrin saturation ≥ 18% in females was associated with higher target achievement rates (95.2% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.020). In males, ferritin ≥ 73 μg/L or hemoglobin > 15.3 g/dL was associated with lower collection success. Readily available red cell indices and iron parameters are associated with clinically relevant PBSC collection outcomes and may serve as practical biomarkers for predicting PBSC collection performance and improving donor assessment. Incorporation of these markers into donor assessment may improve collection planning and procedural efficiency.