Jagjeewan Ram1, Lubna Khan2, Namrata Nigam3, Aparna Singh4
BACKGROUND
Every blood transfusion is associated with 1 % chance of transfusion associated
problems including transfusion transmitted blood-borne infections to its recipient.
The major globally prevalent transfusion transmitted infections are human
immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, syphilis and malaria
parasite. We wanted to compare safety of blood among replacement and voluntary
donations by comparing the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections
among them.
METHODS
All donors were screened by enzyme-linked immunoassay for five transfusion
transmissible infectious agents - human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus,
hepatitis C virus and syphilis by collecting plasma from the pilot tube attached to
the blood bag. Malaria was tested from whole blood sample.
RESULTS
A total of 24,491 donors was included in the study. Among them 21,090 (86.11
%) were replacement and 3,401 (13.89 %) were voluntary donors. Out of 24,491
donors, 560 (2.29 %) units tested positive. Hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B surface
antigen) is found to be the most prevalent transfusion transmitted infection among
both replacement donations and voluntary donations.
CONCLUSIONS
There should be more voluntary donations to achieve safer blood transfusion
practices as self-deferral by donors with high risk condition is the most effective
way to reduce prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections.
