Free T-shirts, other non-cash incentives can up blood donations, study finds

TORONTO – A new study suggests incentives like free T-shirts and gift cards could boost blood donation rates without compromising blood safety.

Canadians are not paid cash for blood and rolling up one’s sleeve to donate is seen as an altruistic act.

But research by an international team of economists suggests that offering non-monetary incentives could bring in more donors.

For example, a paid vacation day from work for blood donors in Italy led to a 40 per cent rise in annualdonations.

Co-author Nico Lacetera of the University of Toronto says a reward typically is not given for the actual donation, but for showing up to a blood-donation centre.

He says that helps avoid potential donors who may carry transmissible diseases but lie about their health status in order to get paid.

Writing in the journal Science, the economists caution that their findings should not be interpreted as promoting a straight cash-for-blood policy.

“Since blood is typically in short supply, the basic issue is what can be done to improve donation rates while guaranteeing safety?” said Lacetera. “Current guidelines that prohibit any form of reward will benefit from considering the more recent evidence and possibly reassessing their approach.”