P3.006 Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis Among Voluntary Blood Donors at a Regional Blood Centre in Sri Lanka For Three Year Period

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among voluntary blood donors at a regional blood centre in western province of Sri Lanka, contributing to 7% of total blood collection in the country. All units collected by the blood centre were screened for HIV1 &amp; 2, HBV, HCV, syphilis and Malaria. 4^th generation Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for HIV p24 antigen and HIV-1 and 2 antibodies (Genscreen-ULTRA HIV Ag-Ab) was the screening test for HIV and confirmation was done by standard immunoblotting (western blot) technique. Venereal Disease Reference Laboratory (VDRL) test was used for screening of syphilis confirmed by Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test. <h3>Method</h3> This is a descriptive analysis of retrospective donor records from January 2010 to December 2012. <h3>Results</h3> 66087 allogenic donation (Community, apheresis, in-house) records were analysed. 77.5% of donors were male and 37.3% of donors were within 26–35year age group. 91% of donations were collected from community based donation campaigns. Overall prevalence of HIV was 0.00004% (3 cases) and incidence was 0.0001%, 0.000% and 0.00004 in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. Overall prevalence of syphilis was 0.0005% (37 cases) and was 0.0007%, 0.0007% and 0.0006% in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. There were no HIV positive female blood donors and HIV prevalence among male donors was 0.00005%. Prevalence of syphilis in female donors was 0.0002% and 0.0006% in male donors. The highest Syphilis prevalence of 0.0007% was in 26–35 year age group. All HIV cases were in 36–45 year age group. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In 2011, HIV prevalence was &lt; 0.1 in adult general population of Sri Lanka and reported cases of syphilis was 799. This study shows a low prevalence among blood donors due to the existing strategies of the National blood service which could further improved by strengthening of donor selection and testing strategies.