BACKGROUND: Increased knowledge of HIV transmission and behavioral and test screening may encourage high-risk blood donors to self-defer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Knowledge of HIV transmission and screening and the association with demographics, screening test reactivity, and unreported deferrable risks (UDRs) was assessed by a 1998 anonymous mail survey sent to 92,581 blood donors, of whom 57 percent responded. Groups were compared by using weighted chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Four percent of the donors thought that it was very likely or somewhat likely for a person to contract HIV from donating blood, and 20 percent perceived a similar risk from blood transfusion. Only 60 percent of the donors knew that the available screening tests may not detect a recent infection. Thirty-seven percent either did not know or felt it was acceptable to donate blood to obtain HIV testing. Those most likely to answer knowledge questions incorrectly were more likely to have a higher prevalence of test reactivity or UDRs and to be <or=25 years old, members of a minority, less educated, non-US-born, or first-time donors. CONCLUSION: Innovative ways to increase donor understanding of the implications of risk behaviors and the limitations of current screening procedures should be developed. They might prevent high-risk individuals from donating blood.
BACKGROUND: Increased knowledge of HIV transmission and behavioral and test screening may encourage high-risk blood donors to self-defer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Knowledge of HIV transmission and screening and the association with demographics, screening test reactivity, and unreported deferrable risks (UDRs) was assessed by a 1998 anonymous mail survey sent to 92,581 blood donors, of whom 57 percent responded. Groups were compared by using weighted chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Four percent of the donors thought that it was very likely or somewhat likely for a person to contract HIV from donating blood, and 20 percent perceived a similar risk from blood transfusion. Only 60 percent of the donors knew that the available screening tests may not detect a recent infection. Thirty-seven percent either did not know or felt it was acceptable to donate blood to obtain HIV testing. Those most likely to answer knowledge questions incorrectly were more likely to have a higher prevalence of test reactivity or UDRs and to be <or=25 years old, members of a minority, less educated, non-US-born, or first-time donors. CONCLUSION: Innovative ways to increase donor understanding of the implications of risk behaviors and the limitations of current screening procedures should be developed. They might prevent high-risk individuals from donating blood.
Authors: Erik A Scott; Karen S Schlumpf; Sunitha M Mathew; Alan E Mast; Michael P Busch; Jerome L Gottschall Journal: Transfusion Date: 2010-09 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Thelma T Goncalez; Paula F Blatyta; Fernanda M Santos; Sandra Montebello; Sandra P D Esposti; Fatima N Hangai; Nanci A Salles; Alfredo Mendrone; Hong-Ha M Truong; Ester C Sabino; Willi McFarland Journal: Transfusion Date: 2015-02-03 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Thelma T Gonçalez; Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira; Anna Barbara F Carneiro-Proietti; Elizabeth C Moreno; Carolina Miranda; Nina Larsen; David Wright; Silvana Leão; Paula Loureiro; Cesar de Almeida-Neto; Maria-Inês Lopes; Fernando A Proietti; Brian Custer; Ester Sabino Journal: Transfusion Date: 2012-09-24 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: C Miranda; E Moreno; R Bruhn; N M Larsen; D J Wright; C D L Oliveira; A B F Carneiro-Proietti; P Loureiro; C de Almeida-Neto; B Custer; E C Sabino; T T Gonçalez Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2013-12-09 Impact factor: 2.144
Authors: Thelma T Gonçalez; Ester C Sabino; Nanci Alves Salles; Cesar de Almeida-Neto; Alfredo Mendrone; Pedro E Dorlhiac-Laccer; Jing Liu; Edward L Murphy; George B Schreiber Journal: Transfusion Date: 2009-12-09 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Thelma T Goncalez; Ester C Sabino; Sanny Chen; Nanci Alves Salles; Dalton A F Chamone; Willi McFarland; Edward L Murphy Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2008-04-04