BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine the trend of transfusion transmitted infection in blood donors. METHODS: In this study 52727 blood donors were retrospectively evaluated for markers of hepatitis B, C, HIV(1/2), and syphilis. To screen the blood donors for HIV(1/2)(HIV(1/2) Ag/Ab COMBO, ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany), the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) method was used. For HBsAg and anti-HCV third generation MEIA kits (ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany) were used and for the syphilis RPR test the Biokit SA (Barcelona, Spain) was used. RESULTS: A total of 52,727 donors were tested within the five year period, of which 15 (0.03%), 3531 (6.7%), 323 (0.6%), and 35 (0.07%) were positive for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis, respectively. The prevalence of TTI in blood donors was 7.4%. It increased steadily from 5.1% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2006, stayed in same level in 2007, and decreased to 8.1% in 2008. Distribution of transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) based on donor status was 13.8% in first time commercial remunerated blood donors, 9.4% in first time voluntary blood donors, and 9.7% in family replacement blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results in this study showed that family replacement donors are more likely to transmit transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) than voluntary donors, but are safer than commercial blood donors. So blood transfusion services should work on replacement of family blood donors with voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine the trend of transfusion transmitted infection in blood donors. METHODS: In this study 52727 blood donors were retrospectively evaluated for markers of hepatitis B, C, HIV(1/2), and syphilis. To screen the blood donors for HIV(1/2)(HIV(1/2) Ag/Ab COMBO, ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany), the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) method was used. For HBsAg and anti-HCV third generation MEIA kits (ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany) were used and for the syphilis RPR test the Biokit SA (Barcelona, Spain) was used. RESULTS: A total of 52,727 donors were tested within the five year period, of which 15 (0.03%), 3531 (6.7%), 323 (0.6%), and 35 (0.07%) were positive for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis, respectively. The prevalence of TTI in blood donors was 7.4%. It increased steadily from 5.1% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2006, stayed in same level in 2007, and decreased to 8.1% in 2008. Distribution of transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) based on donor status was 13.8% in first time commercial remunerated blood donors, 9.4% in first time voluntary blood donors, and 9.7% in family replacement blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results in this study showed that family replacement donors are more likely to transmit transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) than voluntary donors, but are safer than commercial blood donors. So blood transfusion services should work on replacement of family blood donors with voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.