Background: Though the blood transfusion is lifesaving, it is never risk free and carries potential risk for transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs).The objective of present study is to assess the prevalence and trend of TTIs among blood donors in the blood bank attached to tertiary level government hospital and its comparison with national data and other studies of different regions. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study was done including healthy blood donor of 18-65 years from May 2011 to April 2016. TTIs testing were done with 3 rd generation ELISA for HIV, HBV and HCV and HIV testing was also done with 4th generation ELISA from the year 2014 onwards. Syphilis screening was done either by RPR, TPHA strip test or ELISA and Malaria parasite was tested either by peripheral smear or rapid test. Results: From 40971 donors in study, 550 (1.34%) donors were sero-reactive from which 400 (0.98%) donors were reactive for HBV, 67 (0.16%) were for syphilis, 40 (0.098%) were for HCV, 33 (0.081%) were reactive for HIV and 10 (0.024%) were malaria positive. During the study period four donors showed co infection for HIV and HBV. Most common age group to be sero reactive in the present study is 21-30 years of age (43.09% of total). Conclusions: Prevalence of TTIs in the present study was lower as compare to other studies of the India. The reasons behind this finding may be better pre-donation counseling, better life style, higher proportion of voluntary blood donation (> 99%) and high pre-donation deferral rate (11.17%).

BACKGROUND: Pre-donation donor screening is must for the safety of the blood donor and recipient. Deferrals lead to loss of precious whole blood donors and blood units available for transfusion purposes. AIM: To record and document the current rate and reasons for donor deferral in our tertiary care hospital based blood bank to modify recruitment strategy for blood donors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study was conducted by retrospective data analysis of whole blood donors (Voluntary/Replacement), arrived for donating blood at blood bank and in outdoor camps, during the period 1 st July 2010 to 30 th June 2014. The donor selection was done by pre-donation screening tests like questionnaire followed by physical examination and haemoglobin estimation. National guidelines were used for selection and deferral of donors. The deferred donor's data was analyzed statistically. RESULT: Out of 34380 blood donors who came to donate blood, 31049(89.63%, out of which 97.51% voluntary donors) were eligible for donation and 3331(10.37%) blood donors were deferred. The deferral rate among male population 7.47% and female population 42.09% were observed. Odds ratio for deferral in female donors was 8.99, implying thereby that chance of deferral in females is nearly 9 times higher as compared to males. The five leading causes for male donor deferral were low haemoglobin, hypertension, medication, and malaria& alcohol intake in last 48 hours & for the female donor deferral were low haemoglobin, menstruation, medication, low weight & hypotension. CONCLUSIONS: Studying the frequency and the different causes of donor deferral will help to identify sections of the population which could be targeted for increasing and retaining of the existing pool of voluntary blood donors and also to guide and provide the necessary essential database for the policy design and programme implementation at local, regional, and national level.

In 1940, the cause of Haemolytic Disease of Foetus & Newborn (HDFN) was linked to the Rh blood group system by Levine and Stetson. Rh was the name given to the system because of the similarity of this antibody to one made from stimulating guinea pigs and rabbits with rhesus monkey cells. This Rh antibody, described by Landsteiner and Wiener, agglutinated 85% of human red ABSTRACT Background: Since it was discovered by Karl Landsteiner, the ABO blood group system is the most important blood group system in Transfusion Medicine. The blood group systems are also very important in population genetic studies, researching population migration patterns as well as resolving certain medico-legal issues, particularly disputed parentage. This study was carried out with an objective to provide data regarding gene frequency and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among blood donors in South Gujarat, India. Methods: Data of 40732 blood donors were retrospectively collected and analyzed regarding ABO and Rh blood groups from May-2011 to April-2016 and reported in simple numbers and percentage. Blood group of the blood donors was determined by forward and reverse methods with the help of commercially available standard monoclonal antisera by test tube and column agglutination techniques in required cases. Results: The most common blood group among donors was B (34.43%) followed by O (32.26%), A (24.35%), while the least prevalent blood group was AB (8.94%). Rh positivity among donors was (95.12%). Rests were Rh Negative (4.87%). The estimated gene frequencies were 0.1844 for I A (p), 0.2477 for I B (q) and 0.5679 for I O (r). Conclusions: The most common blood group in donors was B positive and least common was AB negative.

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