Prevalence of Infectious Diseases among Blood Donors: A Study Based on the Data from Regional Blood Centre Abbottabad

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs)—including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Syphilis—among blood donors at the Regional Blood Center in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The objective was to improve transfusion safety and guide the enhancement of donor screening protocols using Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) and Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT).

Place and Duration: The research was conducted at the Regional Blood Center, Abbottabad, over a two-year period from January 2022 to December 2023.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional design was utilized, encompassing 30,379 screened blood donations. Donors were required to meet predefined health criteria, including a minimum weight of 50 kg, hemoglobin ≥12.5 g/dl, and stable vital signs. Screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV was conducted using CLIA and NAT, while Syphilis was tested through CLIA and Malaria through the Immunochromatographic Test (ICT). Demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and geographic origin were also recorded and analyzed.

Results: Among the total screened samples, the prevalence rates were: Syphilis 1.21% (n=368), HBV 0.83% (n=254), HCV 0.63% (n=193), HIV 0.10% (n=32), and Malaria 0.01% (n=5). The donor population consisted of 98.9% males and 1.1% females.

Conclusions: The study revealed a relatively low but notable prevalence of TTIs among blood donors, with Syphilis emerging as the most common infection. These findings emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance, enhanced screening technologies, and public awareness initiatives to strengthen blood safety and prevent transfusion-related infections in the region.