BACKGROUND: The safety of blood with regards to transmission of infectious diseases is guaranteed by European laws that regulate both the selection of donors through pre-donation questionnaires and serological screening. However, variability in the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in different countries and some differences in the selection of donors can influence the efficacy (with regards to the safety of blood) of these processes. In this study we compared the prevalence of HIV in blood donations in the three macro-areas of Europe and in various western European countries, analysed the criteria of selection and rewarding of donors in western European countries, and studied the trend in the prevalence of HIV in Italy from to 1995 and 2006. METHODS: European data were derived from the European Centre for the Surveillance of HIV; Italian data were obtained from the Transfusion-Transmitted Infections Surveillance System and National and Regional Register of blood and plasma. The information on eligibility criteria and rewarding offered to donors was derived from international sources. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV in blood donations was highest in eastern Europe, followed by central Europe and western Europe. Among the western European countries, Spain, Italy and Israel had the highest prevalences; the prevalence was noted to be higher in countries which did not offer any rewarding to the donor. In Italy the prevalence of HIV was 3.8 cases per 100,000 donations in 2006 and increased between 1995 and 2006, both among donations from repeat donors and first time donors. CONCLUSIONS: The data highlight the need to continue improving the selection of donors and the coverage of the surveillance systems for HIV infection in transfusion services.
BACKGROUND: The safety of blood with regards to transmission of infectious diseases is guaranteed by European laws that regulate both the selection of donors through pre-donation questionnaires and serological screening. However, variability in the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in different countries and some differences in the selection of donors can influence the efficacy (with regards to the safety of blood) of these processes. In this study we compared the prevalence of HIV in blood donations in the three macro-areas of Europe and in various western European countries, analysed the criteria of selection and rewarding of donors in western European countries, and studied the trend in the prevalence of HIV in Italy from to 1995 and 2006. METHODS: European data were derived from the European Centre for the Surveillance of HIV; Italian data were obtained from the Transfusion-Transmitted Infections Surveillance System and National and Regional Register of blood and plasma. The information on eligibility criteria and rewarding offered to donors was derived from international sources. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV in blood donations was highest in eastern Europe, followed by central Europe and western Europe. Among the western European countries, Spain, Italy and Israel had the highest prevalences; the prevalence was noted to be higher in countries which did not offer any rewarding to the donor. In Italy the prevalence of HIV was 3.8 cases per 100,000 donations in 2006 and increased between 1995 and 2006, both among donations from repeat donors and first time donors. CONCLUSIONS: The data highlight the need to continue improving the selection of donors and the coverage of the surveillance systems for HIV infection in transfusion services.
Authors: J Coste; H W Reesink; C P Engelfriet; S Laperche; S Brown; M P Busch; H T Cuijpers; R Elgin; B Ekermo; J S Epstein; O Flesland; H E Heier; G Henn; J M Hernandez; I K Hewlett; C Hyland; A J Keller; T Krusius; S Levicnik-Stezina; G Levy; C K Lin; A R Margaritis; L Muylle; C Niederhauser; C Neiderhauser; S Pastila; J Pillonel; J Pineau; C L van der Poel; C Politis; W K Roth; S Sauleda; C R Seed; D Sondag-Thull; S L Stramer; M Strong; E C Vamvakas; C Velati; M A Vesga; A Zanetti Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 2.144
Authors: Gustaf Edgren; Trung Nam Tran; Henrik Hjalgrim; Klaus Rostgaard; Agneta Shanwell; Kjell Titlestad; Agneta Wikman; Rut Norda; Casper Jersild; Louise Wideroff; Gloria Gridley; Johanna Adami; Mads Melbye; Olof Nyrén; Marie Reilly Journal: Transfusion Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Ester C Sabino; Thelma T Gonçalez; Anna Bárbara Carneiro-Proietti; Moussa Sarr; João Eduardo Ferreira; Divaldo A Sampaio; Nanci A Salles; David J Wright; Brian Custer; Michael Busch Journal: Transfusion Date: 2011-10-07 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Vincenza Regine; Mariangela Raimondo; Laura Camoni; Maria Cristina Salfa; Pietro Gallo; Anna Colucci; Anna Maria Luzi; Barbara Suligoi Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2013-05-23 Impact factor: 3.443