Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Confidential self-exclusion (CUE) system has been designed to enhance transfusion safety as an extra screening test to detect donors who donate their blood during window period. This study was designed to survey the efficacy of CUE option in Shiraz Blood Transfusion Center (southern Iran).

 Materials and Methods

 The present retrospective study was conducted in Shiraz Blood Transfusion Center from 2009-2012. CUE is used for all individuals who refer for blood donation and prefer their blood not to be used if they have any doubt about their blood suitability for transfusion. The prevalence rates of HIV, HBV, and HCV were compared among blood donors who opted in and out of CUE . The data were analyzed using t-test and proportion test in Med Calc-8.

 Results

 From all donors, 4551 (1.13%) opted for CUE. Self exclusion was more frequent among male, single, low-grade education donors, and donors with the history of previous donation (p < 0.05). The prevalence rate of HBV and HCV was higher among donors who opted CUE option (p < 0.05). The prevalence rate of HIV was not higher among donors who opted CUE option (p > 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of CUE were 4.4% and 98.8%, respectively.

 Conclusions

 In our study, the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV was higher among donors who opted CUE option. There is a need to review the process of CUE option and make some changes to prevent unreasonable CUE option.