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Prevalence and trends of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus among blood donors in Iran, 2004 through 2007
Author(s) -
Amini Kafiabad Sedigheh,
Rezvan Houri,
Abolghasemi Hassan,
Talebian Ali
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02245.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis c virus , virology , blood transfusion , hepatitis b , virus , viral disease , hepatitis c , immunology
BACKGROUND: Evaluation and monitoring the prevalence of transfusion‐transmissible viral infections in blood donors is a valuable index of donor selection and blood safety. This study analyzed the trends of blood‐borne infections among Iranian blood donations during 4 years. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Viral screening results of 6,499,851 allogeneic donations from 2004 through 2007 were analyzed. All donations were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections per 100,000 donations and 95% confidence interval was calculated. The p value was estimated by chi‐square test. RESULTS: The prevalences of HBV, HCV, and HIV decreased during the 4‐year study from 2004 through 2007. The overall prevalence was 0.56% for HBV, 0.004% for HIV, and 0.13% for HCV. There was a significant and impressive decrease in hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence from 0.73% in 2004 to 0.41% in 2007. The prevalence of HIV appeared to have decreased from 0.005% in 2004 to 0.004% in 2007 although the decrease was not significant. HCV prevalence showed a slight decline in blood donations from 0.14% in 2005 to 0.12% in 2007. CONCLUSION: The trends of transfusion‐transmitted infection prevalence in Iranian blood donations suggest that most of the safety measures employed in recent years in Iran have been effective.