Trends in serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors  in a tertiary care hospital

Nazish  Babar; Amjad Mahboob; Bushra Anwar; Asim Ali Shah; Asfandyar Babar; Sara Najeeb

doi:10.35787/jimdc.v13i2 (A).1235

Nazish Babar Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, Pakistan
Amjad Mahboob Department of Medicine, Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, Pakista
Bushra Anwar Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad
Asim Ali Shah Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, Pakistan
Asfandyar Babar Shifa College of Dentistry, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sara Najeeb .

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35787/jimdc.v13i2%20(A).1235

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs), among blood donors in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Microbiology and Blood Bank section, Main Pathology Laboratory, Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Swabi, from 1^stof January 2022 to 1^st of Jan 2024.

Material and Methods: Sample collection and processing was carried out by drawing donor’s blood in two blood collection vacutainers. One containing the anticoagulant i.e. ethylene-diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) which was used to analyze the blood grouping, and to confirm the status of the donor fit for donation of blood, whereas the other vacutainer without the anticoagulant was used for screening of the serological markers for HBV, HCV, HIV, Treponema pallidum by ELISA and for Plasmodium spp. by rapid immunochromatography.

Results: According to the results obtained in our study, regarding the burden of disease, from the total of 10,939 blood donors, 844 were found positive for at least one transfusion transmitted infection i.e. an overall positivity of TTIs was 7.71%. 99.95% of the donors screened during the study period were males with 35.09% of the donors in the age group 20 to 30 years. Regarding the prevalence of the diseases, maximum prevalence observed was that of Hepatitis C virus. i.e. 4.89 %.

Conclusion: The reported prevalence of TTIs substantiates that the risk of transfusion transmitted infections is considerably high. More studies need to be conducted on regular basis, as each study shows the effectiveness and the necessity of the continuation of strict screening protocols, along with spreading awareness in order to limit the risk of transmission of TTIs in Pakistan.

Key words: Blood donor screening, ELISA, HBV, HCV, HIV, Syphilis, Malaria, TTIs.