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Background A total of 2%-2.9% of the population in China is infected with hepatitis C virus ( HCV). This study estimated the prevalence and incidence of HCV among Chinese blood donors. Study Design and Methods We examined whole blood and apheresis platelet donations at five Chinese blood centers in 2008 to 2010. All donations were screened using two rounds of testing for alanine aminotransferase, antibody to human immunodeficiency virus Types 1 and 2, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti- HCV, and syphilis. Screening reactivity is defined by a reactive result in one or both rounds of screening tests. Confirmatory tests (Ortho third-generation HCV enzyme immunoassay, Johnson & Johnson) were performed on anti- HCV screening-reactive samples. Confirmatory positive rates among first-time donors (prevalence) and repeat donors (incidence) were calculated by blood center and demographic categories. Donor characteristics associated with HCV confirmatory status among first-time donors were examined using trend test and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Among 821,314 donations, 40% came from repeat donors. The overall anti- HCV screening-reactive rate was 0.48%. Estimated HCV prevalence was 235 per 100,000 first-time donors; incidence was 10 per 100,000 person-years in repeat donors. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, first-time donors older than 25 years displayed higher HCV prevalence than the younger donors. Less education is associated with higher HCV prevalence. Donors 26 to 35 years old and those above 45 years displayed the highest incidence rate. Conclusion High prevalence and incidence in donors indicate high residual risks for transfusion-transmitted HCV in Chinese patients. Implementation of minipool nucleic acid testing in routine donation screening may prevent a substantial number of transfusion-transmitted HCV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Information regarding the risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) infection among Chinese donors is important for understanding the trend of HIV transmission routes and for developing effective donor behavioral screening policies. Study Design and Methods In 2009 to 2011, a total of 77 HIV-positive and 649 HIV-negative consented donors who screened nonreactive for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, syphilis, and alanine aminotransferase in four Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study- II Chinese regions received and completed a questionnaire by mail regarding their recent and past medical procedures, drug use, and sexual behaviors, etc. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses grouped questions into three risk factors. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined the relationship between risk factors and HIV status adjusting for center, age, sex, and education. Results The three risk factors were test-seeking tendency, medical-related risks, and behavioral risks. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, greater test-seeking tendency and behavioral risks were associated with HIV infection, with the adjusted odds ratios ( ORs) being 2.2 (95% confidence interval [ CI], 1.2-4.1) and 3.8 (95% CI, 1.8-7.9), respectively, but medical risks were not ( OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.6-2.2). In comparison to less high school education, high school and more education was associated with lower risks for HIV infection, with the ORs being 0.35 (95% CI, 0.17-0.70) and 0.17 (95% CI, 0.09-0.33), respectively. Conclusions Test-seeking tendency and high-risk sexual behaviors are important predictors of HIV infection in Chinese blood donors, suggesting that the health history inquiry used in donor selection process needs improvement to defer high-risk donors more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]