HEPATITIS B, C & HIV

SERO-PREVALENCE OF INFECTION IN BLOOD DONORS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV in healthy
blood donors in Blood Transfusion Services, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. Design: Prospective observational
study. Setting: Blood Transfusion Services, Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), affiliated with Quaid-e-Azam medical
College Bahawalpur. Period: From 1 January t st o 31st December 2005. Methods and Materials: All the persons
coming for blood donations , at the BVH facility, were included. Clinically anaemic, ill, past history of jaundice and age
of less than 18 or more than 50 years were excluded. All the donors (27938) from various areas of Bahawalpur,
Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Vehari and Rahim Yar Khan districts, were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs)
Antigen, hepatitis C antibody (Anti HCV) & Human Immuno-deficiency Virus Antibody (Anti-HIV)on sera by one Step
Test Device. All the positives cases were confirmed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay. Results: Out of total
27938, 25420(91%) were male. Mean age was 28 years with age range 18-50. No HIV positive case was detected.
HBV was 2.69%, slightly more than HCV, 2.52%. Males were significantly (p<0.02) more infected than females.
Conclusion: Risk of transmission of viral hepatitis is a major problem of blood transfusion. Frequency of viral hepatitis
in blood donors is higher in our area as compared to rest of the world. HIV infection is very low. Preventive strategies
include good blood transfusion services along with safe sex and other measures.