Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusion. Although blood is a life-saving element, it can occassionally cause some severe diseases. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and their known risk factors among Guilan blood donors from 1997 till 2002.

 Materials and Methods

 In this descriptive study, 221508 blood donors were referred to Guilan Blood Transfusion Center. ELISA test was performed for HBsAg and HCVAb detection. Positive cases of HBV and HCV were confirmed by neutralization and RIBA tests, respectively. Known risk factors including history of surgery, blood transfusion, and IV drug abuse were extracted from available medical documents for being evaluated.

 Results

 997 patients were HBsAg positive and 3603 HCVAb positive. After performing confirmation tests, the prevalence rates of HBsAg and HCVAb were 0.45% and 0.32%, respectively the rates of both were higher in males. The most common risk factors were in order history of surgery and the history of dental procedure in the past decade.

 Conclusions

 Due to several risk factors in blood donors, more studies are recommended in order to evaluate the correlation between prevalence of infections with one single risk factor as an independent variable without any factor intervening factors.

 Key words : Blood donation, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Iran

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Transfusion medicine has a particular role as a multipurpose specialty. The risk of transfusion transmitted diseases (TTDs) in blood transfusion is one of the challenges to centers where blood transfusion is practiced. Since blood is only prepared from human as the source material, attention to TTDs in blood donor population is of importance their prevalence rates may indicate of blood safety and infection prevalence in society.

 Materials and Methods

 In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 49820 recruited blood donors in Guilan Blood Transfusion Center were examined with census method during 2003-2005. Data of donors including HBsAg, HCVAb, and HIVAb status were extracted from computed profile of primary ELISA screening test. Confirmation tests including neutralization, RIBA and Blot would be performed, if ELISA was positive.

 Results

 Among 49820 blood donors after confirmation tests, 225 showed TTDs including HBsAg⁺, HCVAb⁺, and HIVAb⁺. Overall prevalence rates of HBsAg⁺, HCVAb⁺, and HIVAb⁺ were 0.26%, 0.18%, and 0.008%, respectively. The average age of affected subjects was 35.5. 69.3% had donated at blood collection drives, and 77.3% were first-time blood donors.

 Conclusions

 TTD prevalence rate in blood donors was 0.4%, much lower than general population. It emphasizes the importance of interviewing and retrieving past medical records as an easy, inexpensive, and reliable screening method for TTDs prevention.

 �

 Key words : Blood donation, Transfusion transmitted virus, Hepatitis B, HIV�