BACKGROUND: Croatia implemented individual donation (ID)-NAT testing of blood donors in 2013 for three viruses HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 as a mandatory test for all blood donors. This study assessed the impact of NAT screening 3 years after its implementation. METHODS: A total of 545,463 donations were collected and screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 using the Procleix Ultrio Plus Assay. All initially reactive (IR) NAT samples were retested in triplicate and, if repeatedly reactive (RR), NAT discriminatory assay (dNAT) was performed. ID-NAT positive donations were confirmed by RT-PCR on the COBAS AmpliPrep/TaqMan platform. RESULTS: Out of 545,463 samples tested, 108 (0.02%) were RR in NAT. There were 82 (75,9%) HBV reactive, 16 (14.8%) HCV reactive, and 10 (9.3%) HIV-1 reactive samples. 51 (47.2%) samples were ID-NAT positive only. Out of these 51 NAT yield cases, 1 window period HIV-1 and 50 occult HBV infections (OBI) were determined. There were only two potential HBV DNA transmissions from OBI donors. CONCLUSION: The implementation of NAT screening for three viruses has improved blood safety in Croatia. During the 3-year period, 1 window period HIV-1 and a number of occult HBV donations were identified.
BACKGROUND: Croatia implemented individual donation (ID)-NAT testing of blood donors in 2013 for three viruses HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 as a mandatory test for all blood donors. This study assessed the impact of NAT screening 3 years after its implementation. METHODS: A total of 545,463 donations were collected and screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 using the Procleix Ultrio Plus Assay. All initially reactive (IR) NAT samples were retested in triplicate and, if repeatedly reactive (RR), NAT discriminatory assay (dNAT) was performed. ID-NAT positive donations were confirmed by RT-PCR on the COBAS AmpliPrep/TaqMan platform. RESULTS: Out of 545,463 samples tested, 108 (0.02%) were RR in NAT. There were 82 (75,9%) HBV reactive, 16 (14.8%) HCV reactive, and 10 (9.3%) HIV-1 reactive samples. 51 (47.2%) samples were ID-NAT positive only. Out of these 51 NAT yield cases, 1 window period HIV-1 and 50 occult HBV infections (OBI) were determined. There were only two potential HBV DNA transmissions from OBI donors. CONCLUSION: The implementation of NAT screening for three viruses has improved blood safety in Croatia. During the 3-year period, 1 window period HIV-1 and a number of occult HBV donations were identified.
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: Marion Vermeulen; Nico Lelie; Wendy Sykes; Robert Crookes; Johanna Swanevelder; Lilian Gaggia; Martin Le Roux; Eben Kuun; Sam Gulube; Ravi Reddy Journal: Transfusion Date: 2009-02-27 Impact factor: 3.157