Transfusion Transmissible Infections Research Articles

Transfusion-transmissible coinfections among US blood donors.

Transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among US blood donors has been widely documented. Here we estimate the prevalence of donors presenting with ≥2 TTIs (multiple infections past or present referred to as coinfections) and describe their demographics and associations. Data from the Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Monitoring System were compiled for October 2020-September 2023 (3 years). Prevalence per million donations (pmd) was calculated for each TTI coinfection combination with demographic characteristics summarized. The odds of each TTI coinfection combination were estimated using logistic regression. Reactivity by NAT and/or serology (HIV, HBV, and HCV) defined donors as consensus positive (CP) for each infection while serology-based algorithms defined syphilis CP and the subset with active syphilis infections (ASIs). About 22 million donations were included, with 212 coinfections (9.7 pmd). Around 2% of donations positive for any TTI (n = 10,516) were coinfections. Coinfection prevalence per TTI combination ranged from 0.3 pmd for HIV CP and HCV CP, to 4.3 pmd for HIV CP and syphilis CP. There were high proportions of coinfections from donors who were male, aged 25-54 years, white or black, first time, and residing in the southern US Census Region. The odds of a second TTI occurring in an individual donor with a TTI ranged from 23 (95% CI: 13, 41) times more likely for HBV CP and ASI to 395 (95% CI: 298, 524) times more likely for HIV CP and ASI. Coinfections are relatively uncommon among blood donors in the United States; however, associations exist among HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis infections.

Prevalence of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C Among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mexico

The prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) among blood donors is critical for ensuring blood safety. Aim: To provide an updated assessment of TTIs at a tertiary care hospital in Mexico over a ten-year period. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Blood samples were analyzed from potential donors at tertiary care hospital between 2012 and 2022. Donors completed a questionnaire and were screened for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C using nucleic acid testing and serological tests. Prevalence and trends were estimated. Among the 117,756 donors analyzed, 0.48% were positive for syphilis, with a significant annual decrease of −5.9% (p < 0.001), although notable fluctuations occurred, including a peak in 2021. HIV showed a significant annual increase of 9.8% (p = 0.029), with a peak in approximately 2019–2020. Hepatitis C maintained a stable trend, with a slight annual decrease of −5.6% (p = 0.170). Hepatitis B consistently decreased, with an annual decrease of −11.3% (p = 0.06). This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and screening of blood donors to ensure blood safety. These findings underscore the need for localized public health interventions, particularly to address the increasing incidence of HIV. Further research should focus on enhancing donor screening practices and public health strategies to reduce the prevalence of TTIs.

Trends of Transfusion Transmissible Infections among Predominantly Male Blood Donors in Rawalpindi: A Five-Year Retrospective Study

Background: Blood transfusion carry an inherent risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). Monitoring trends and prevalence of TTIs may reveal crucial information regarding safety of blood supply and donor recruitment strategies. Objective: To evaluate the critical indicators of blood safety including seroprevalence and temporal trends of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis among blood donors in Rawalpindi. Methods: The study was conducted in Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion. The data of 2,78,774 blood donors from 2016-2020 was retrospectively analyzed. Donors’ demographics, type of donation, donation frequency and serological results of TTIs were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Of the 2,78,774 blood donations, 3.6% (n=10,091) blood donors were positive for one or more TTIs. Among these, the most prevalent was HCV (1.5%) and the least prevalent was HIV (0.08%). The seroprevalence of TTIs illustrated a declining trend from 4.2 to 3.4% over the period under study. Regarding trend of each TTI with respect to year, HBV, HCV and HIV depicted fluctuating trend while decreasing trend was observed for syphilis from 2016-2020. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of four major TTIs was evaluated between the year 2016 and 2020. A decreasing trend in the seroprevalence from 4.2 % to 3.6 % was observed over a five-year period. The HCV remained highest throughout the period whereas a gradual increase in HIV and a decrease in syphilis was observed.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in Arua regional blood bank, Uganda

BackgroundBlood transfusion services play a very key role in modern health care service delivery. About 118.5 million blood donations were collected globally in 2022. However, about 1.6 million units of blood are destroyed annually due to transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). There is a very high risk of TTIs through donated blood to recipients if safe transfusion practices are not observed. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Arua regional blood bank, Uganda.MethodsThis study was a retrospective cross-sectional design that involved a review of a random sample of 1370 blood donors registered between January 1st, 2018 and December 31st, 2019 at Arua regional blood bank, Uganda. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the blood donors. The binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with TTIs.ResultsThe majority of the blood donors were male (80.1%), and the median donor age was 23 years (IQR = 8 years). The overall prevalence of TTIs was found to be 13.8% (95%CI: 12.0-15.6%), with specific prevalences of 1.9% for HIV, 4.1% for HBV, 6.6% for HCV and 2.8% for treponema pallidum. Male sex (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.32–3.36, p-value = 0.002) and lapsed donor type compared to new donor type (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.13–0.87, p-value = 0.025) were found to be associated with TTIs.ConclusionThe prevalence of TTIs among blood donors of West Nile region, Uganda was found to be significantly high, which implies a high burden of TTIs in the general population. Hence, there is need to implement a more stringent donor screening process to ensure selection of risk-free donors, with extra emphasis on male and new blood donors. Additionally, sensitization of blood donors on risky behaviors and self-deferral will reduce the risk of donating infected blood to the recipients.

Trend in the Seroprevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) from 2019 to 2023 at the Blood Transfusion Service of the Buea Regional Hospital, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) are of significant public health concern, as they can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Monitoring the trends and prevalence of TTIs is crucial for ensuring the safety of the blood supply and implementing effective preventive measures. This study aimed to analyzed the trend in seroprevalence of TTIs, including HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis (TPHA), among blood donors in the Buea Regional Hospital (BRH) from 2019 to 2023. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using data from the Buea Regional Hospital Blood Transfusion Service. The study population included all blood donors who donated blood from January 2019 to December 2023. Serological testing for TTIs was performed using standard diagnostic methods. The prevalence of each TTI was calculated for each year, and the trends were analyzed using statistical tests and expressed as frequency tables, Chi square, logistic regression. Significance was set at p=0.05. Results: A total of 11,256 donors were tested and 919 (8.12%) blood donors tested positive for at least one TTI agent during the study period. The overall positivity rates were 8.23%, 9.48%, 6.65%, 8.29%, and 8.24% for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. The prevalence of individual TTIs showed significant variations, with TPHA being the most prevalent (2.96%), followed by HBV (2.58%), HCV (1.15%), and HIV (1.24%). Socio-demographic factors, such as gender, marital status, occupation, and age, were found to be significantly associated (p<0.001) with the odds of testing positive for a TTI. Conclusion: The trend in the prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in the Buea Health Area was characterized by fluctuations over the five-year period.

Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIS) among blood donors in SOS hospital Heliwa, Somalia

BackgroundA transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) refers to any infection that can be spread from one person to another through the injection of blood or blood products. The prevalence of these infections varies across countries, influenced by the disease burden within each population. To assess the severity of TTIs, the World Health Organization (WHO) has mandated pre-transfusion blood tests for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and syphilis. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and trends of TTIs among blood donors at SOS Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, from 2016 to 2022. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed by examining SOS Hospital's blood bank records spanning from 2016 to 2022. The research included all blood donors screened for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) during this period. Data obtained was input and analyzed utilizing Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) v.25.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010. Frequencies and percentages were calculated as part of the descriptive statistics. To analyze trends, Chi-square analysis was applied, and statistical significance between variables was determined using the p-value. ResultsThere was a total of 36,296 people donated blood during study period. The majority of blood donors were males (99.8 %), primarily aged between 25 and 44 years (80.4 %) with family donors constituting 80.8 % of the participants. Among 36,296 donors, 1087 (2.99 %) tested positive for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), declining from 4.27 % in 2016 to 1.98 % in 2022. The Chi-Square test confirmed a highly significant reduction in TTIs from 2016 to 2022 (X2 = 57.625, p < 0.0001), indicating a decreasing trend over the seven-year period. Conclusion and recommendationsThis study uncovers a moderate prevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections, indicating a notable decrease over time. Additionally, the findings underscore a gender disparity in blood donation, with replacement donors being predominant. It is imperative to conduct multi-center research endeavors to precisely identify the factors influencing transfusion-transmitted infections among blood donors.

Use of routinely collected blood donation data for expanded HIV and Syphilis surveillance in Blantyre district, Malawi.

The World Health Organization recommends that all blood donations be screened for transfusion transmissible infections; these data are currently not incorporated into national disease surveillance efforts. We set out to use routinely collected data from blood donors in Blantyre district, Malawi to explore HIV and syphilis prevalence and identify sero-conversions among repeat donors. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of blood donation data collected by the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service from 2015 to 2021. All blood donations were routinely screened for HIV and syphilis. We characterized donor demographics as well as screening outcomes, including identifying sero-conversions among repeat donors who previously tested negative on their last donation. A total of 23,280 donations from 5,051 donors were recorded, with a median frequency of donations of 3 (IQR:2-6). Most donors were male (4,294; 85%) and students (3,262; 64.6%). Prevalence of HIV at first donation was 1.0% (52/5,051) and prevalence of syphilis was 1.6% (80/5,051); 52 HIV sero-conversions and 126 syphilis sero-conversions were identified, indicating an incidence rate per 1,000 person-years of 5.9 (95% CI: 4.7, 7.4) and 13.3 (95% CI:11.4, 15.4) respectively. Students had a lower prevalence of HIV and syphilis but higher risk of syphilis seroconversion. While blood donors are generally considered a low-risk population for HIV and syphilis, we were able to identify relatively high rates of undiagnosed HIV and syphilis infections among donors. Routinely collected data from national blood donation services may be used to better understand local HIV and syphilis epidemiology, with the potential to enhance disease surveillance systems. These findings may be used to identify priority prevention areas and populations in Blantyre district that can inform targeted interventions for improved disease prevention, testing and treatment.

Prevalence and factors associated with transfusion-transmissible infections (HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis) among blood donors in Gabon: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) remain a major public health problem in countries with limited resources, particularly in Gabon. Complete information on the prevalence in Gabon of the main TTIs among blood donors is still lacking in the national context. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon. This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It was the result of data from several comprehensive studies published between 2014 and 2022, the purpose of which focused on the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The overall prevalence of TTIs among blood donors was determined using the random effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger's statistics. A total of 175,140 blood donors from the nine eligible studies were admitted to this study. The combined prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis obtained in the random effects model was 3.0%, 6.0%, 4.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Moreover, being a male blood donor and aged between 25 and 44 years was significantly associated with HBV infection and being a female blood donor and aged 35 years and over was significantly associated with HIV infection. Family or replacement blood donors had a high infection burden for all four TTIs of study. The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections remains high in the country's blood banks. Improving current prevention (selection criteria) and screening strategies may be necessary in a global approach.

Magnitude of Transfusion Transmissible Infections and Associated Factors Among Blood Donors at the Woliso Blood Bank, Oromia, Ethiopia: Across-Sectional Study

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Background: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Blood transfusion is an effective treatment for saving millions of lives, even though transfusion-transmissible infections are the major problem. The prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections varies between different geographical populations. This study aims to assess the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections and associated factors among blood donors at Woliso Blood Bank, South West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Method: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data through a face-to-face interview. The data was entered in Epi Data version 3.1, and exported to STATA version 17.0 for data cleaning and analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with outcome variables. Odd ratios along with the 95% confidence interval were used to present the finding and statistical significance was reported with a p-value of 0.05. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections was 9.5% (95% CI 6.3-12.9%). Participants without formal education [AOR=4.84; 95% CI= 1.09, 21.46], unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners [AOR=4.77; 95% CI= 1.38, 16.44], and participants with a lower frequency of blood donation [AOR=2.85; 95% CI: 1.16, 6.99] were significantly associated with transfusion transmissible infections. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusions: &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;The prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections was high in this study area. Educational level, unprotected sexual intercourse with more partners, and a number of blood donations were found to be independent predictors of transfusion-transmitted infections. Blood banks and regional health offices should work to mobilize the community and improve health promotion through prevention and control considering the associated factors identified.

Causes of pre and post-donation deferrals among blood donors, at Kwale Satellite Blood Transfusion Center, Kwale County, Kenya, 2018–2022

BackgroundBoth pre-donation and post-donation deferrals pose challenges to blood safety and availability. This study delved into the deferral rates before donations and their underlying reasons, as, transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) leading to post-donation deferrals among potential blood donors at the Kwale Satellite Blood Transfusion Centre (KSBTC) in Kenya.MethodsWe performed a retrospective electronic record review of pre- and post-donation deferrals among blood donors at KSBTC, 2018–2022. The pre-donations deferral rate and reasons for deferral were analyzed. Accepted donations were analyzed to determine the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and both crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Variables with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsA review was conducted on 12,633 blood donation records. Among these, individuals 2,729/12,633 (21.60%) were deferred from donating with the primary reason being low hemoglobin levels, constituting 51.86% of deferrals. Around 773/9,904 (7.80%) of blood units, were discarded due to at least one TTI. Among these, HBV accounted for 4.73%, HIV for 2.01%, HCV for 1.21%, and Syphilis for 0.59% of cases. The adjusted odds ratio for male donors were, (aOR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.01–1.57), donors with none or primary education level (aOR = 1.4 95% CI 1.11–1.68), first-timer donors (aOR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.01–1.44), and static strategy for blood collection (aOR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.12–1.63) were independently potentially associated with testing positive for at least one TTI.ConclusionThe study indicates that TTIs continue to pose a risk to the safety of Kenya’s bloodstock, with a notable prevalence of HBV infections. Male donors, individuals with limited education, first-time donors, and utilizing a fixed strategy for blood collection were identified as potential risk factors independently associated with TTIs.

Assessing the implications of using RDTS in donor blood screening for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs): analysis of trans-in donor blood at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

BackgroundBlood transfusion is a critical hemotherapeutic intervention. However, the widespread utilization of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) methods in screening potential donors for TTIs poses a serious public health challenge. We investigated the prevalence of TTIs in donor blood units that were transported from external health facilities (Trans-in blood) to Ho Teaching Hospital for critical care. MethodWe adopted a cross-sectional design to investigate 727 units of Trans-in blood at the Ho Teaching Hospital's blood bank between January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. An apriori-developed data capture form was used to collect the data for this study. The chi-square test and Cramer's V or Phi were used to assess the association between variables of interest. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between TTIs and donor's blood groups whereas spatial visualization was employed to present the distribution of missed TTIs. ResultsThe overall prevalence of missed TTIs was 6.19 % (95 % CI: 4.66–8.18), comprising missed HIV, HBV, and Syphilis infection rates of 1.79 % (95 % CI: 1.72–1.86), 1.24 % (95 % CI: 1.17–1.31), and 3.16 % (95 % CI: 3.09–3.23), respectively. There was a higher rate of missed HIV infections in 2022 (2.04 %, 95 % CI: 1.04–3.97) compared to 2021 (1.49 %, 95 % CI: 0.64–3.45), and a decline in the rates of missed HBV and Syphilis infection within the period. The prevalence of TTI was highest among donors with ABO blood group 'O' (68.89 %, 95 % CI: 54.34–80.47) and Rh 'D' Positive blood group (95.56 %, 95 % CI: 85.17–98.77). Compared to donors with blood group O, non-O donors had 4.53 times the odds (95 % CI: 1.12–18.27; p-value=0.034) of missed HBV infection. ConclusionThe observed prevalence of missed TTIs highlights potential gaps in current screening practices, posing a significant public health concern. Efforts made to clamp down on the spread of these infections within the population may be impeded if the current trend of missed TTIs continues. Further studies on a larger scale with more comprehensive data are advised to better appreciate the public health implications of missed TTIs in Ghana.

Serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections and ABO blood groups in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

To ascertain the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) across diverse donor groups in the Najran province. Additionally, to establish a potential association between the development of TTI and the donors' blood group, as determined by the ABO/Rh blood grouping system. Blood donation data of 4120 donors, spanning from January to December 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. The blood were screened for TTI markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2 (anti-HIV1&2), anti-human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (anti-HTLV-1&2), and syphilis antigen. Positive TTI markers were detected in 10.9% of the donors. The most detected TTI marker was anti-HBc (8.9%), followed by HBsAg (0.7%). Other markers were individually detected in <1% of the donors. Anti-HBc-positive was significantly elevated among non-Saudi blood donors. There was an association between age groups and anti-HCV (p=0.002), anti-HTLV (p=0.004) and syphilis antigen (p=0.02) markers positivity. The AB positive blood group exhibited the most positivity for TTI markers, followed by O positive blood group. Similarly, association was found between ABO group and HBsAg (p=0.01), anti-HBc (p=0.001), and anti-HCV (p<0.001) markers positivity. Emphasis on implementing robust screening measures for donated blood is underscored by this study. There is the need for future study to extensively evaluate TTI status to enhance our understanding of the trend in TTI.

Unveiling Leptospira Antibody Seroprevalence among Voluntary Blood Donors: Insights from a Single-center Observational Study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is among transfusion transmissible infections but is not screened routinely among blood donors and is endemic in Southern India. The presence of carrier state and the donors being asymptomatic may lead to transfusion transmission in the absence of screening. We aimed to study the prevalence of leptospirosis among blood donors and to assess the need to implement screening strategies for its detection. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted among blood donors using Purposive sampling to select donors for the study. The samples collected for routine transfusion transmissible infections screening were used to screen for Ig M antibodies to leptospira infection by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Samples that were reactive twice were true positive. These donors were contacted telephonically to enquire if they developed any symptoms of the infection. RESULTS: A total of 3576 came for blood donation during the study period of which 124 participated in the study. Among the 124 donors screened, a total of seven samples (5.64%) samples were found to be reactive for IgM Leptospira antibodies. The mean age of the donors that were found to be reactive was 27.5 years (SD: 3.15, Range: 20-45 years) with a male to female ratio of 6:1. All these donors were asymptomatic before or after seven days and 2 weeks of blood donation. CONCLUSION: Approximately six out of 100 donors screened were positive for IgM antibodies of Leptospira without any symptoms. As there is a risk of transmission via blood transfusion, regular screening may be needed at least in areas of high prevalence.

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in African blood donors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In developing countries, the safety of blood transfusions remains an important public health concern as it is associated with a higher risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). In this study, we aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa and assess the temporal trends and regional differences within the continent through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, HINARI, Global Index Medicus and Clinical. gov) were searched for relevant studies for our research. We included all primary studies that estimated the seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa with an age population from 16 to 65 years old, without language restrictions, from inception up to March 1st 2024. The pooled seroprevalence was estimated through the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model. The temporal trends and regional differences were assessed through subgroup and meta-regression analysis. We obtained 122 studies that met our inclusion criteria, comprising 7,814,996 blood donors tested for HIV. Sixty-six percent of the studies were from Western and Eastern Africa. The pooled seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa was 2.66% (95% CI: 2.17-3.20%; I2=99.80%, p<0.01). The highest prevalence was observed in the Central African region, 3.28% (95% CI: 2.57%-4.06%), followed by the Eastern 3.21% (95% CI: 2.12%-4.52%), and the Western 2.66% (95% CI: 1.93%-3.49%) regions. Lower prevalences were observed in the Northern region, 0.57% (95% CI: 0.0%-2.10%), followed by the Southern African region with 0.45% (95% CI: 0.16%-0.86%). We observed a temporal decreased trend of HIV prevalence. The prevalence of HIV infection among African blood donors remains high and is not homogeneous across the continent. Efficient measures to strengthen HIV testing and prevent HIV transmission through blood transfusion are needed in Africa. Systematic review protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42023395616. This article was supported by National Funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDP/4255/2020).

Exploring the determinants of risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors in Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

Blood donation is vital to healthcare, but it must be kept safe by mitigating the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors at Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar. This study utilized a cross-sectional study design using secondary data. Mandalay city and Mandalay Blood Bank in Mandalay General Hospital were purposely selected and a total of 406 first-time blood donors participated. A structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer was used. The questionnaire contained background characteristics, knowledge on TTIs, attitude toward TTIs, and TTIs risk behaviors. To examine the determinants (background characteristics, knowledge, and attitude) that affect risk behavior, inferential statistics techniques that included the chi-squared test, bivariable logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. A p-value of less than 0.05 signified statistical significance. Among 406 first-time blood donors, 52.9% were under 20 years old, and 53.7% were male. Most had undergraduate education (77.6%), were married (84.2%), and were students (55.7%). Additionally, 76.8% hadn't received the hepatitis B vaccine. Blood groups were distributed as follows: B (40.0%), O (33.8%), A (23.4%), AB (8.9%). About 15.8% showed high knowledge level, and 63.6% had high attitude. Notably, 29.3% exhibited high-risk behavior for TTIs. Age was associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.38, p = 0.049), but lost significance in multivariable regression (p = 0.214). Knowledge on TTIs didn't show significance. However, high attitudes were significantly associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 11.4, 95% CI: 1.25, 103.83, p = 0.017, retained in multivariable regression, p = 0.012). Findings of this study contribute in the development of programs that ensure a safe and reliable blood supply chain. To improve blood safety standards among first-time blood donors, this study highlights the value of targeted education and screening processes, placing particular emphasis on acquiring knowledge and positive attitude toward blood donation and risk behavior.

Evaluation of donor blood discard rates in relation to transfusion transmissible infections in Muchinga province, Zambia

Evaluation of donor blood discard rates in relation to transfusion transmissible infections in Muchinga province, Zambia

Changes in transfusion-transmissible infection prevalence and demographics among US blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the US blood supply. We compared blood donor demography and infectious disease prevalence before and during the pandemic using a large multicenter database. Data were categorized as "Before COVID-19" (March 2018-February 2020) or "During COVID-19" (March 2020-February 2022). Donor demographics, donation frequency, and infectious marker prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV were compared for the two time periods. The odds of a donor testing positive for these infections among the two time periods were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Our study assessed a total of 26,672,213 donations including 13,430,380 before and 13,241,833 during COVID-19. There were significantly more donations from donors who were female, aged 40 and older, white, and repeat, during COVID-19. Donation frequency comparison quantified the increase in donations from donors who were white, female, older, and repeat during the pandemic. The prevalence of HIV and HCV decreased significantly during COVID-19 compared to before, but not for HBV. For HIV, the adjusted odds of infection during the pandemic did not differ but for HBV, the odds were significantly more likely during the pandemic and were significantly lower for HCV. Demographics and infectious disease marker prevalence changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Prevalence of each infection in the donor population will continue to be monitored to determine if changes were specific to the pandemic period.

A comparative analysis of screening technologies for transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ensuring the safety of blood supply relies on robust screening and donor selection processes. This study assessed the technical performance of automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (EVOLIS, Bio-Rad, France) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (COBAS 6000 e601 and COBAS e411, Roche Diagnostics, Germany) in detecting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective data of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) screening test results were collected from blood center records, encompassing two phases: January 2020 to May 2020 (phase 1) and March 2021 to April 2021 (phase 2). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ELISA and ECLIA were calculated. Performance evaluation was conducted using the Youden’s index and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The study included a total of 824, 755, and 830 donor samples in phase 1 and 1237, 1238, and 1236 donor samples in phase 2 for HIV, HBV, and HCV testing, respectively. High agreement (kappa 0.88, 0.95) existed between ELISA and COBAS e601 for HIV and HBV, with substantial agreement (kappa 0.66) for HCV. Likewise, substantial agreement (kappa 0.66, 0.79, 0.79) was found between ELISA and COBAS e411 for all three parameters HIV, HBV and HCV, respectively. Notably, nearly all false-positive samples detected by ECLIA had low cutoff index values ranging from 1 to 6.5. CONCLUSION: The differences in sensitivity and specificity contribute to the discrepancy observed between various serological testing platforms, such as ELISA and ECLIA, for TTI testing. Specifically, low signal/cutoff ratios ≤6.5 obtained with ECLIA are highly indicative of false-positive results.

Distribution of ABO/Rhesus Blood Groups Among Hepatitis B and C Virus (HBV Ag, HCV Ab) Positive Patients in Anbar Providence, Iraq

This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections among blood donors at Anbar Blood Bank in Iraq. The study also explored the correlation between ABO and Rh blood groups with Transfusion-Transmissible Infections (TTIs) and sociodemographic factors and cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted on 100 blood donors at Anbar Blood Bank from March 24, 2023, to June 21, 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed HBV and HCV-positive patients who provided consent, while exclusion criteria included individuals without HBV and HCV infections. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected, and tests for TTI markers (HBV, HCV) and ABO and Rh blood grouping were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and slide method, respectively. Sociodemographic data, TTI marker results, and ABO and Rh blood types were recorded for analysis. Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic data was performed, and a chi-square test was employed to assess the correlation between ABO and Rh blood groups with TTI markers and sociodemographic factors (Age, sex, and living area). Statistical significance was set at P&lt;0.05. The results revealed a male predominance (71%), with the majority aged between 20-30 years (39%) and residing in rural areas (52%). The most common blood group was O+ (39%), while AB- was the least prevalent (0%). In terms of viral infections, 80% of participants were found to be infected with HBs Ag, and 20% with HCV Ab. Notably, blood group O+ exhibited the highest infection rates for both HBs (28%) and HCV (11%), while blood group A- demonstrated the lowest HBs infection rate (3%) and no HCV infection. The study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among blood donors in Anbar, Iraq. Additionally, correlations between ABO and Rh blood groups, TTI markers, and sociodemographic factors were explored. The findings contribute to the understanding of transfusion safety and may inform blood screening and donor selection protocols.

Trends in immunological markers of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in Mamfe District Hospital, Southwest Cameroon

BackgroundBlood transfusion is associated with exposure to blood Transfusion Transmissible Infection (TTIs). The threat posed by the blood-borne pathogens is disproportionately distributed in different healthcare facilities in Cameroon. Thus, there is a need for continuous surveillance of TTIs in the country. This study aimed to assess the screening procedure for blood transfusion and determine the trend in immunological markers of TTIs among blood donors at the Mamfe District Hospital.MethodsA prospective descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted at Mamfe District Hospital from March to May 2022. A total of 165 blood donors were recruited by the consecutive sampling method. Donors were screened using both Rapid diagnostic tests,T. pallidum haemagglutination test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of TTIs. Data generated was entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed using the statistical software R, version 4.2.0. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics of percentages, means ± standard deviation, and student t-test was used to compare both diagnostic techniques, and was considered significant when p < 0.05.ResultsA hundred and sixty-five donors were enrolled in the study with a male preponderance giving a male-female sex ratio of 22.5 and a mean age of 32.23 ± 8.60 years. The majority (75.2%) of the donors were of the O-positive blood type, repeat donors (69.1%) and were mainly family replacement and paid donors as against the voluntary blood donors (39.4% and 37.0% vs. 23.6% respectively). overall TTIs prevalence was 18.78% (31/165) (), with HBsAg being the most predominant marker at 12.12% (20/165) followed by Treponema pallidum, HCV and HIV antibodies at 4.85 (8/165), 1.21%(2/165), 0.60% (1/165) respectively. Except for the HBV, The prevalence of TTIs was higher when using a single RDT than the ELISA test, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionBloodborne pathogens remain a major menace to safe blood transfusion practice in Mamfe district hospital and their detection could be easily missed if the RDT method alone is used for donor screening. Therefore, the donor screening protocol in Mamfe District Hospital should systematically incorporate a confirmation diagnostic test such as ELISA.