Study of serological prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in a tertiary care hospital in North India

Introduction: Blood transfusion has been subjected to risk of transfusion transmissible infections such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HBV (Hepatitis B virus), HCV (Hepatitis C virus), syphilis etc. This risk has been reduced dramatically by routine screening of blood donors in blood banks. Objective: Our aim was to study the serological prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) among donors and to find any correlation between these infections and blood groups. Methodology: This is a retrospective observational study for a period of one year (Dec 2014- Nov2015), and this study has been carried out in blood bank of tertiary care hospital of North India. Data of all voluntary and replacement donors retrieved from blood bank records i.e. ABO group, Rh type and results of serological tests performed. Results: Total 27,689 donors were screened during the study period and 559 donors were found seropositive for transfusion transmissible infections (2.01%). In which maximum 403 donors were positive for HBV (1.45%), followed by 93-HCV (0.33%), 42-syphilis (0.15%), 19-HIV (0.068%) and 2 for malaria antigen (0.007%). Seropositive cases for HBV, HCV and MP antigen were maximum in blood group B positive(B+) donors. While seropositive cases for syphilis were more encountered in A positive blood group(A+). HIV prevalence seen more in O positive group(O+). Conclusion: In this study, serological prevalence among apparently healthy donors was 2.01%. Which varies from 0.76% to 3% in different blood group donors. So strict screening is essential for all donors to prevent these life-threatening TTI. We observed no association between blood group antigens and these transfusion transmissible infections. So, more studies in larger level are required to find out any association.