Prevalence of Transfusion Transmitted Infections Giving Importance to HIV in Screening of Healthy Blood Donors and the Challenges Ahead - Abstract
Transfusion transmitted infections, particularly the viral agents and continuous patronage of paid donors due to the scarcity of blood/blood components is the major emerging challenge faced by the blood banks nowadays. The priority of the present study is estimation of seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infections among both voluntary and directed blood donors in the Department of Transfusion Medicine, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha state in India. A total number of 15,566 units over a period of 8 months were tested for HIV 1 /2 IgG/IgM, HBsAg, antiHCV IgG/IgM by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique(ELISA), anti IgG, IgM, IgA against Trepanoma Pallidum by immunochromatographic assay and rapid test for malaria Ag to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase. Seroprevalence of HBV was highest (0.44 %,) followed by HCV (0.11%), HIV and syphilis (0.025%) with no reported case of Malaria. Since there is an alarming rise in the incidence of transfusion transmitted infections, especially hepatitis cases among the blood donors, special preventive measures need to be taken to prevent the transmission of these dreadful viruses through blood/blood components transfusion.