AT LEAST 18,000 healthy pints of blood have to be destroyed each year because the patients involved are being treated for a medical condition.

Sufferers of haemochromatosis have to be routinely bled because of a genetic disorder, which leads to the absorption of too much iron from their diet.

Yet, despite the condition, their blood could be used in transfusions by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service but for a legal loophole which prohibits them from taking advantage.

Patients have been told that because the withdrawal of blood is not a "voluntary" decision, it cannot be passed on for use to help in medical emergencies.

Instead, the healthy blood samples are labelled as a biohazard and have to be destroyed at great expense by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

In a statement, the HSE said: "In 2007, there were approximately 18,000 episodes of day case care for people with a diagnosis of haemochromatosis wherein a therapeutic venesection [blood withdrawal] was conducted.

"This data was extracted from the Hospital Inpatient Inquiry System, which collates information on in-patient and day case episodes of care at hospitals operated or funded by the HSE. It does not include general practitioners or private hospitals.

"Financial monitoring and hospitalisation information systems are not integrated in a way which would easily answer the question as to cost per day case of venesection."

The HSE added that a ministerial advisory group had been set up to review the use of blood withdrawals from haemochromatosis patients.

"The minister has received recommendations for her consideration. The minister's position on these recommendations is a matter for the Department of Health and Children.

"Policy with regard to use of blood collected through venesection for haemochromatosis in the national blood stock is a matter for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). The HSE will be pleased to implement any decisions made in this regard by the IBTS or the Department of Health."

It is thought that donations from haemochromatosis patients could provide between 12% and 15% of the blood supply the country needs each year for medical emergencies.