Nucleic acid testing-benefits and constraints

Seroprevalence of Hiv, Hbv, HCV and Syphilis Among Blood Donors in Kims Blood Bank Hubballi, Karnataka, a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…Other measures to prevent transmission of TTIs includes using autologous transfusions whenever possible, patients requiring regular transfusion therapy (e.g., hemophilics and thalassaemics) should be given HBV vaccine, exclusion of all professional donors and high-risk donors such as homosexuals, bisexuals, intravenous drug abusers. In spite of following all these measures, transmission of infection can occur, primarily because of the inability of the test to detect the disease in the 'window' period of infection, immunologically variant viruses, immune-silent carriers and inadvertent laboratory testing errors [31]. Detection of infection during window period can be done by Nucleic acid testing (NAT).…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis C among Voluntary Blood Donors in Mumbai

“…The screened seronegative donations are still at risk for HCV and thus, need for a sensitive screening test arises to decrease this residual risk which has been reduced significantly over the last two to three decades in western countries where NAAT has been implemented 12 . It is essential to follow up the anti HCV reactive blood donors on two accounts, First for permanent deferral for blood donation and secondly for early management of HCV infection 7 .…”

Zika Virus Infection: Current Concerns and Perspectives

“…Key interventions such as appropriate clinical care and prevention of ZIKV transmission through sexual contact or blood transfusion need to be strengthened [102]. Some asymptomatic individuals and mild cases may hinder control measures and spread the disease to others without being identified [97]. Therefore, all people, irrespective of their region of living, must be informed of the potential current and future risks of ZIKV transmission and its associated neurologic disorders [103].…”

“…NAT reduces risk of transfusion-transmitted infections by providing an additional layer of blood safety through screening blood donations. It detects the viral nucleic acids earlier and specifically by amplifying the targeted region of viral ribonucleic acid or deoxynucleic acid (DNA) [97].…”