Seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections among different blood group donors at Blood Bank LUMHS, Hyderabad.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HIV, Syphilis and Malaria in blood donors.

METHODS: This is a cross sectional descriptive study, conducted at Blood bank and Transfusion center at Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hyderabad, during the period from January, 2014 to June, 2015. A total of 4683 blood donors were screened for HBsAg, Anti-HCV and HIV on Architect 20001 (manufactured by Abbott), employing chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). For Syphilis, VDRL ICT kits were used and Malaria parasite was screen through MP slides. Blood grouping was performed by both forward and reverse methods.

RESULTS: This study showed a high frequency of HBsAg, VDRL and malaria positivity among the O-ve blood group donors, i.e. 3.70%, 9.25% and 0.61% respectively. Blood group B-ve individuals were commonly infected with HCV (12.5%) as compared with all other blood group donors. HIV is more commonly reported in A+ve blood group individuals. Blood group O+ve is more prevalent (37.41 %).

CONCLUSION: High frequency of HCV infection in blood donors advocates implementation of strict screening policy for donors and public awareness campaigns about preventive measures to reduce the spread of this infection as well as other transfusion transmissible infections.