Seropositivity of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis among blood donors: A retrospective study

Shweta Prasad; K. R Uma Bai

doi:10.4103/0973-6247.126705

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Year : 2014 | Volume : 8 | Issue : 1 | Page : 66-67

Seropositivity of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis among blood donors: A retrospective study

Shweta Prasad¹, K. R Uma Bai²
¹ MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Hosakote, Bangalore, India
² Department of Pathology, MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Hosakote, Bangalore, India

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Date of Web Publication

7-Feb-2014

How to cite this article:
Prasad S, Bai KU. Seropositivity of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis among blood donors: A retrospective study. Asian J Transfus Sci 2014;8:66-7

How to cite this URL:
Prasad S, Bai KU. Seropositivity of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis among blood donors: A retrospective study. Asian J Transfus Sci [serial online] 2014 [cited 2023 Feb 2];8:66-7. Available from: https://www.ajts.org/text.asp?2014/8/1/66/126705

Sir,

Blood transfusion services are a vital and integral part of modern healthcare services. However, the risk of transfusion transmittable infections (TTI) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and syphilis has been a major handicap.

Blood bank records at the MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Bangalore were reviewed retrospectively from May 2006 to April 2011. The prevalence and trends of TTI's were assessed. A strict donor selection criterion was employed during collection of blood, and each unit was screened for TTI using commercially available 3rd generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Screening for syphilis was performed with the venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test. All seropositive samples were repeat tested before discarding.

A total of 3719 donations were received, of which 1669 (44.97%) were voluntary donors and 2050 (55.12%) were replacement donors [Table 1]. Male donors formed the majority (3536, 95.07%).

Table 1: Voluntary and replacement blood donors over a 5-year period (2006-2011)

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The observations made in this study [Table 2] are in concurrence with those obtained in various studies across India. ^[1],[2],[3]

Table 2: Total seropositivity of HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and syphilis in voluntary and replacement donors over a 5-year period (2006-2011)

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TTI's pose a high risk with every blood transfusion, this risk has reduced over the past decade or so primarily due to improved donor selection, increased vigilance, use of sensitive tests in screening of blood, and by making testing of all donated blood mandatory for certain infectious diseases. ^[4] In conclusion, seropositivity among blood donors is a cause for concern, as it is indicative of the disease load of TTI's in India. Stringent measures should be continued to be employed to reduce the risks of spread via blood donations; self-deferral must also be advocated.

References

1.	Kaur G, Basu S, Kaur R, Kaur P, Garg S. Patterns of infections among blood donors in a tertiary care centre: A retrospective study. Natl Med J India 2010;23:147-9.
2.	Fernandes H, D'souza PF, D'souza PM. Prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections in voluntary and replacement donors. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2010;26:89-91.
3.	Meena M, Jindal T, Hazarika A. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in India: A five - year study. Transfusion 2011;51:198-202.
4.	Standards for Blood Banks and Blood Transfusion Services. National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, New Delhi, 2007.