Evaluation of the return rate of volunteer blood donors

background: to convert first-time blood donors into regular volunteer donors is a challenge to transfusion services. objectives: this study aims to estimate the return rate of first time donors of the ribeir？o preto blood center and of other blood centers in its coverage region. methods: the histories of 115,553 volunteer donors between 1996 and 2005 were analyzed. statistical analysis was based on a parametric long-term survival model that allows an estimation of the proportion of donors who never return for further donations. results: only 40% of individuals return within one year after the first donation and 53% return within two years. it is estimated that 30% never return to donate. higher return rates were observed among black donors. no significant difference was found in non-return rates regarding gender, blood type, rh blood group and blood collection unit. conclusions: the low percentage of first-time donors who return for further blood donation reinforces the need for marketing actions and strategies aimed at increasing the return rates.