Search

Background & Objectives: Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) are the major problem associated with blood transfusion. Accurate estimates of risk of TTIs are essential for monitoring the safety of blood supply. The present study was undertaken to determine the percentage of voluntary donors (VDs) and replacement donors (RDs) and also, to estimate and compare the seroprevalence and changing trends of TTIs amongst VDs and RDs in a regional blood transfusion centre in north India., Methods: This retrospective study was based on the records of all voluntary and replacement donations which were collected from January 2008 to December 2014 in a Regional Blood Transfusion Centre placed in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India., Results: Of the total 220,482 donations, 163,540 (74.17%) were voluntary and 56,942 (25.83%) were replacement donation. The overall seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and malaria were 0.32, 1.61, 0.73, 1.62 and 0.06 per cent, respectively. Furthermore, the TTIs were more frequently encountered in RDs in comparison to VDs., Interpretation & Conclusions: The increase in public awareness regarding voluntary blood donation, meticulous donor screening, counselling and use of highly sensitive tests can help in reducing the risk of TTIs., Competing Interests: None.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of the anti-red blood cell antibodies among healthy blood donors., Material and Methods: Antibody screening of all voluntary blood donor serum was performed as routine immunohematological procedure. Positive sera were further investigated to identify the specificity of irregular erythrocyte antibody by commercially available red cell panel (ID-Dia Panel, Diamed-ID Microtyping System)., Result: A total of 47,450 donors were screened for the presence of irregular erythrocyte antibodies. A total of forty-six donors showed presence of alloantibodies in their serum (46/47,450%, 0.09%), yielding a prevalence of 0.09%. Most frequent alloantibodies identified were of MNS blood group system. The results showed statistically a higher prevalence of RBC alloantibodies in females than in males., Conclusion: Screening for presence of alloantibodies in donor blood is important to provide compatible blood products and to avoid transfusion reactions., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Regional Blood Transfusion Centre (RBTC), GTB Hospital, Delhi is providing safe and quality blood to one third of Delhi population. A discrepancy exists when reactions in forward grouping do not match with reverse grouping or if the previous and current results do not match., Aim: To analyze ABO blood group discrepancies in an algorithmic manner, and to access the incidence and causes of ABO discrepancies among blood donors., Material and Methods: Retrospective data of blood donors with blood group discrepancies was recorded in Regional Blood Transfusion Centre (East) Delhi, during a period of 3years from January 2010 to May 2013. DiaMed-ID Card Micro Typing System using Gel Cards (Cressier sur Morat, Switzerland) were used for determination of the ABO/Rh blood groups combined with reverse grouping. A detailed serological workup of these cases was studied for recognition and resolution of the blood group discrepancy., Results: Total number of donors during the study period were 104,010 (30,120; 31,117; 32,173 and 10,600 respectively). Blood group discrepancies were found in 51 cases (0.04%). There were 30 (58.8%) cases with low avidity anti-B Antibodies, 10 (19.6%) cases with weaker expression or subgroups of A, 2 (3.9%) cases with weaker expression or subgroups of B, 5(9.8%) cases with unexpected alloantibodies (Anti-N and Anti-M, Anti-Lea) and one(1.9%) case of Bombay blood group. In 3 cases, discrepancy could not be resolved and were referred to reference laboratory for confirmation by molecular analysis. The most frequent cause of discrepancy in forward grouping was found to be weak A or B antigen expressions and in reverse grouping decreased anti-B titers was most common., Conclusion: All discrepancies reported on ABO cell and serum grouping must be investigated further, so that correct blood group is reported, minimizing the chances of transfusion reaction. A note of caution should be mentioned on the blood group card to prevent ABO incompatibility in case of transfusion., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Blood transfusion has been the transmission mechanism in 15 per cent of total patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A few reports are available regarding the trend of HIV seropositivity in northern India. Prevalence of VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) reactivity varies from 0.8-15 per cent in blood donors. We present data on the prevalence and trends of infection with HIV 1 and 2 and VDRL reactivity in blood donors in Delhi. Between 2000-2002, a total of 76089 (voluntary and replacement) donors were screened. Majority (82.4%) were replacement donors. Seropositivity for HIV and VDRL was seen in 0.54 and 2.6 per cent of donors respectively. The percentage of seropositivity for HIV and VDRL was significantly higher in replacement donors (P<0.001). It is suggested that extensive donor selection and a voluntary donor service would reduce the number of infectious donors significantly. Non-renumerated repeat voluntary donor services are urgently required to lower the prevalence of transmissible infections. While the need to change to a voluntary donor service and devising effective donor screening cannot be over emphasized, there is also a need to mandate HIV antigen detection in India.

All blood donors Voluntary and Replacement who have donated blood in the centre or in the voluntary blood donation camps, were analyzed for the prevalence of infectious markers over a period of 3 years from 1997 to 1999. A total of 52500 blood units were collected and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HIV I and II and VDRL reactivity. Seropositivity was 471 (0.8%) for HIV I and II, 963 (1.8%) for HbsAg, 1449 (2.76%) for VDRL and 64 (0.5%) for anti HCV. Voluntary donors were comparatively safe. The seropositivity for HIV showed increasing trend between 1997 to 1999.

Transfusion-associated hepatitis is a great problem in developing countries including India due to endemic hepatitis infections and a lack of voluntary donors, trained personnel, and funds. The prevalence of post-transfusion hepatitis B and C in India is about 1-5% and 1%, respectively. A total of 128,589 blood donors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 76,089 donors were screened for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) from 1997 - 2002. Data were tabulated annually. Out of the total 83.6% were replacement donors. Our study concluded that the prevalence of HBsAg and antibodies for HCV ranged between 1.7 - 2.2% and 0.25 - 0.9%, respectively among all of the donors. Seropositivity was definitely higher in replacement donors than in voluntary donors. Based on these results, we recognize an urgent need to establish a non-remunerated voluntary donor base in India. A stringent deferral system should be developed. The use of sensitive laboratory tests and the addition of core antigen (anti-HBc) to the mandatory screening test list would further reduce the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is known to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following blood transfusion in children and immunocompromised adults. In India, it is not mandatory to screen donated blood for CMV in blood banks. Very few studies have been conducted in India to estimate the seroprevalence of this infection in voluntary blood donors. This study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of CMV among voluntary blood donors in Delhi, India. In this study, none of 200 donors tested positive for CMV IgM antibody, but 95% were positive for CMV IgG antibody. There was no statistically significant difference in seropositivity of CMV based on distribution of age. Of the 200 donors, 3% tested positive for HBsAg, 1% for HIV, 2% for hepatitis C virus, and 4.5% for syphilis. Since about 95% of blood donors in India are seropositive for CMV, it would seem superfluous to screen blood donors for CMV, as very few seronegative blood units would be available for transfusion. Other preventive strategies, such as leukoreduction, etc., could be more appropriate and cost-effective for the prevention of transmission of CMV through infected blood to immunosuppressed individuals.

A letter to the editor on blood donors in regional blood transfusion center of North India is presented.