RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of transfusion-transmitted infections in Saudi Arabia blood donors
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1363
OP 1372
DO 10.15537/smj.2022.43.12.20220634
VO 43
IS 12
A1 Alsughayyir, Jawaher
A1 Almalki, Yasser
A1 Alburayk, Imtinan
A1 Alalshaik, Mohrah
A1 Aljoni, Ibrahim
A1 Kandel, Mona
A1 Alfhili, Mohammad A.
A1 Alabdullateef, Abdulmajeed A.
YR 2022
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/43/12/1363.abstract
AB Objectives: To establish a nationwide epidemiological profile of transfusion-transmittable infection (TTI) markers among seemingly healthy blood donors to update policies required to ensure blood safety.Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional study was designed to examine donor demographics and TTI prevalence during 2020 using data provided by the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.Results: Collectively, a total of 375,218 whole blood units were donated, of which 32,758 (8.7%) were excluded due to TTI-related risk. The exclusion was based on a positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) or seroreactivity to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II), syphilis, or malaria. Notably, the central (37.6%) and southern (33%) regions were the epicenters of TTI-reactive blood donors. Hepatitis B virus markers accounted for 85.7% and were the overall most prevalent of TTI-positive donations, followed by HCV at 5.9% and syphilis at 5.6%. In particular, anti-HBc and HBsAg were most prevalent in the south, while HBV NAT was highest in the center.Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus, HCV, and syphilis carry the greatest risk of TTI in Saudi Arabia. Including HBsAg screening is a necessary precautious measure to maintain blood safety.