Sero-positivity of transfusion transmitted infections and reactive donors response to counselling among healthy blood donors

Abstract

Background: Human Blood is essential and life saving in certain medical and surgical conditions and considered as "liquid of life" as it is not replaced by any artificially prepared medicine, though there are tremendous advances in medical sciences. Though Safe blood practice is emphasised since many years, yet there are many side effects of blood transfusion, of which temporary and reversible are easily recognised and treated. Whereas others especially few transfusion transmitted infections which have long term morbidity and mortality needs attention. Recognising these dreaded transfusion transmitted infections in donated blood will help to procure safe blood and help to treat the reactive donors at the earliest. Indirectly reducing the prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) in the community. Tracing the reactive donors and initiating treatment at the earliest, which often would be a window period of transfusion transmitted disease, helps to formulate the strategy to curb the economic burden besides reducing morbidity and mortality. Objective: 1)To know the seroprevalence of transfusion transmitted infection among healthy blood donors; 2)To study reactive donors response to counselling; 3) To suggest strategy to collect and issue safe blood with aim to reduce TTIs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 6.5 years done by review of blood donor registry maintained in blood bank from 2014 to June 2020. All the blood donors were clinically examined, and were asked fill up questionnaire and consent form as per standard guidelines. Mandatory screening tests suggested by WHO like for HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis were done and prevalence among both voluntary and replacement donors were calculated. Counselling for reactive donors done and they were directed to undergo advice and treatment by respective department concerned. SPSS software and MS excel sheet were used to analyze the data. Results: Analysis of data revealed replacement blood donors outnumbered voluntary donors. TTIs were more common among replacement donors compared to voluntary. Most number of reactive donors were among men aged between 26 to 35 years. Prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria were 0.062%, 0.655%, 0.006%, 0.146% and0.006% respectively in our study. Among reactive donors responders were 108(85.71%) as compared to non-responders 18(14.28%). Conclusion: Following strict measures to select donor and to counsel donor before donation with appropriate privacy will help to decrease seroprevalence of Transfusion Transmitted Infections. Counselling reactive donors help to seek treatment at the earliest along with unnoticed ongoing blood donations by them. By knowing seroprevalence rate and response of reactive donors, Government and health administration should make and implement policy for safe blood collection and transfusion.