ANALYSIS OF SCREENING OF BLOOD DONATIONS FOR TRANSFUSION TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS OF A BLOOD BANK LOCATED IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH INDIA

Dr. Vikas Thakur* Dr. Jayant Kumar, Dr. Abhishek Sharma and Dr. Yamini Yadav

ABSTRACT

Background: Transfusion transmitted infections are preventable by proper screening of blood donations. Even healthy donors are unaware about presence of these infections which points towards hidden burden of a disease in community. Aims & Objectives: Analysis of screening report of blood donations of a blood bank of tertiary care hospital for TTIs. Methods: Cross-sectional study using hospital records regarding screening of blood donations for TTIs from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. Results: All blood donations were screened for TTIs. Out of total blood donations no case of HIV was reported. Similarly no cases of Malaria and Syphilis were reported among all blood donations which were screened. Among all donations 13 cases of Hepatitis B were reported which accounts for 0.39% of prevalence. Figures for detection of Hepatitis C were 6 out of 3324 units of blood donations, contributing to 0.18% prevalence among all donations. Conclusions: There is hidden load of persons dwelling with TTIs in community. In our study we have accidently come across detection of few cases of Hepatitis B and C which we might have definitely missed. So screening should be promoted not only in case of blood donations but also at community level to prevent further spread and early intervention in course of treatment. Lower or zero prevalence of TTIs in our study is attributed to healthy sexual behavior, higher literacy and better health care services.

Keywords: Transfusion, screening, TTIs, HBV, HCV.