Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Increasing rate of infection through blood-transmitted agents, especially viruses such as HIV, HCV and HBV and long duration of their window period were the most important reasons for implementing the confidential self-exclusion system. This system is used to help blood donors exposed to contamination be able to exclude their blood units confidentially by informing blood centers. This research was conducted in Qom Blood Center in order to study the efficiency of the confidential self-exclusion system to improve blood safety.

 Materials and Methods

 The comprehensive data bank of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization was used to collect information about 12935 blood donors during the period the confidential self-exclusion system applied from 01.09.82 to 31.03.83 (according to Iranian calendar) in this cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed by applying SPSS software and Chi-square statistical test.

 Results

 Out of 12935 donors, 204 (1.57%) had embarked on excluding their blood. Out of this number, 22 (10.78%) were ELISA positive and 182 (89.22%) ELISA negative. Out of 22 blood donors whose screening test results were positive, 11(50%) were HBs-Ag positive and the other 11 (50%) HCV-Ab positive none of them (22 blood donors) was positive in HIV-Ab and RPR test. Using Chi-square tests to analyze data, it came out to be evident that there was no significant statistical correlation considering marriage status, age and sex between the results of screening tests (ELISA) for blood donors who had excluded their blood donations and those who had not (p>0.05).

 Conclusions

 Given the results of carrying out confidential self-deferral system in Qom and some other blood transfusion centers across the country and increasing rate of infection around the world especially the third world countries, implementation of this plan in order to improve blood safety is imperative. Holding relevant educational workshops to raise public awareness and personal knowledge would further increase blood safety.

 Key words : Blood donors, HCV, HBV, HIV, Iran