Screening of Donated Blood for Transfusion Transmitted Infections By Serology and Response Rate to Notification of Reactive Results : A Tertiary Care Institutional Experience

Abstract

Background : Safety for blood Transfusion begins with healthy donors. A basic part of preventing transfusion
transmitted infections (TTIs) is to notify and counsel reactive donors. This study analysed trends in the prevalence
of transfusion-transmissible infectious pathogens among blood donors and notify them as well as to assess
response rate among them. Donor notification and counselling protect the health of the donor and prevent
secondary transmission of infectious diseases.
Methods : 38707 blood donations were screened for TTIs, namely, HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis, by serology.
ELISA testing for anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg and RPR test for syphilis. All reactive donors were retested in
duplicate and notified of their status by communicating through telephone.
Result : We evaluated 329 (0.85%) cases with reactive screening test results (0.617% HBV, 0.016% HCV, 0.134%
HIV, and 0.08% syphilis). Only 52.58% of donors (173) responded to notification. The response among voluntary
donors was better as compared to the replacement donors (53.61 % versus 40.0 %). Only 99 (57.22%) responsive
donors followed their first attendance at referral clinic.
Conclusion : Our study provides prevalence rate of TTIs among donors and importance of proper donor
counselling and notification of TTI status to all reactive donors who opt to receive this information.