Transmission of infectious diseases through donated blood is of concern in order to provide safe blood for transfusion which forms an integral part of medical and surgical therapy. Blood transfusion carries the risk of transfusion induced transmissible infections including HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, malaria and less frequently toxoplasmosis, brucellosis and some viral infections like Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes. [1] Clerical errors also contribute to transfusion induced transmission of harmful agents. These types of errors include the release of unsuitable units of blood, accidental transfusion of autologous blood to another recipient (autologous blood may include infectious diseases) and errors in testing. [2]

The aim of the present study was to analyse the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, syphilis and assess the level of blood safety.

The present study was conducted at the Blood Bank, Medical college hospital, during the period January 2005 to December 2009. The inclusion criteria were: Hb more than 12 gm% for both male and female, weight more than 50 kg for whole blood and more than 60 kgs for component preparation with no history of hepatitis, chronic infections or high risk behaviour. A total of 19,135 units of blood were screened for HBsAg, HIV (1 & 2) and HCV by using various National AIDS control organization (NACO) approved ELISA kits. Screening for syphilis was done by Rapid plasma reagin method. All the reactive samples were retested to confirm before labeling them seropositive and the respective units were discarded.

Out of 19,135 blood donors 11,165 (58%) were voluntary donors and 7970 (42%) were relative/ replacepment donors (Table 1). Sixty-three percent of the donors were in the age group of 21-30 years. The results of seropositive samples for HIV, HBsAg, HCV and VDRL are shown in Table 2. The rate of co infection with HIV and HBsAg was 0.06% (12 cases), HIV with HBsAg and HCV was 0.03% (6 cases), HIV with syphilis and HBsAg with HCV was nil.

Blood transfusion is a potentially significant route of transmission of infection although risk may be reduced by vigorous screening of donors and donated blood. Incurrence rate of HIV through blood transfusion approach 100%. [1] Recent studies in the west have shown that the estimated incidence of transfusion induced transmitted HIV, HBsAg & HCV is very low. [3] In the present study the incidence of HIV was 0.91%, HBsAg 3.2%, HCV 0.35%, syphilis 0.04% and overall the incidence of infection was 4.58%.

This study highlights 0.91% prevalence of HIV infection. Seropositivity of HIV in other studies was observed to be 0.5%, [3] 0.3%, [1] and 0%. [4] Karnataka state AIDS prevention society data also states 0.5% incidence of HIV in Karnataka. [5]

Seroprevalence of HBsAg in this study was 3.2% and in various other studies was 2.9%, [3] 1.7% [1] and 5%. [2] Seroprevalence of HBsAg in Bombay was 6% and 5% in Pakistan. [7] [2] The frequency of HBsAg is more than other infectious diseases because of asymptomatic carriers.

The frequency of HIV is less compared to HBsAg. Moreover, it should never be forgotten that blood donations collected in the latent period of infection may be infectious despite a negative antibody test. [8] Adding nucleic acid testing (NAT) to routine blood screening protocol helps in detecting very low levels of viral RNA or DNA that may be present in the donated blood.

The prevalence of seropsitivity for HCV and VDRL was 0.35% and 0.04% respectively. Other study also showed 0.5% and 0.23% prevalence respectively. [6] HCV is transmitted primarily through blood exposure. About 20-40% of HCV cases are acute and majority of them progress to chronic infection. The long term risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is greater in HCV than HBsAg positive patients [3] Indian studies indicate that seroprevalence of HCV ranges between 0.4-1.09%. [6]

Majority of the donors (98%) were male which is comparable to the study done by Rao, et al; Annapurna et al. [9] and Arora et al. [1]

In the present study, no voluntary donor was found to be positive for HIV. The seroprevalence of other infectious diseases is more in relative donors than voluntary donors. Relative donors most of the times are family members and during emergency they donate blood without giving proper history of exposure.

Today we know that all the countries are joining hands to fight against transfusion-transmissible infections, especially HIV. Educating people, creating awareness, encouraging voluntary blood donation camps through various organizations and implementing strict donor selection criteria as per the guidelines laid down for blood bank by National AIDS Control Organisation is an important factor.

In five year period 19,135 units of blood was collected. Seroprevalence of HIV was 0.91%. the seroprevalence of HBsAg, HCV and syphilis was 3.2%, 0.35% and 0.04% respectively. The seroprevalence was more in relative/replacement donors as compared to voluntary donors. No voluntary donor was found to be positive for HIV. The present study concludes that motivating voluntary blood donors by conducting voluntary blood donation camp is the most effective way of ensuring adequate supplies of safe blood on a continuing basis. Introducing nucleic acid testing (NAT) for HIV, HBsAg and HCV is recommended to detect the infection during window period.

I thank Dr. Narasimha Murthy, Professor and Head of the Department and all staff members of Department of Pathology for their support & encouragement to prepare this report.

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