The Scientific Journal of Iranian Blood Transfusion
Year:2008 | Volume:4 | Issue:5 (SPECIAL ISSUE)|Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Blood donors awareness about AIDS and hepatitis is of importance. The aim of this research is to determine the level of awareness, study the attitude, and assess practices towards AIDS and hepatitis infections and their transmission and prevention modes among blood donors of Kurdistan Blood Transfusion Center before and after education programs.Materials and Methods: In this quasi experimental study (before-after study design), simple random sampling was used and a sample size of 200 blood donors was selected. Reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (=0.86); its validity was approved by two infectious disease specialists and the scientific adviser of the study. The questionnaires were filled out before and after education programs. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and paired t tests.Results: The majority of donors were male (82.5%) and 93% were urban. 6.6% were illiterate, 68.7% diploma or lower, and 24.8% higher diploma. 28.6% were new donors, 24.6% experienced, and 46.7% repeat. There was a significant difference between general awareness, attitude and practices towards AIDS and hepatitis infection before and after educational intervention (p<0.05).Conclusions: This study showed that promotion of education will improve the level of awareness, attitude and practices towards blood donors. The important point is the elimination of misconceptions about AIDS and hepatitis transmission modes in blood donors. More use of the media, particularly radio and TV, for awareness raising and practice improvement of blood donors seems imperative

Background and Objectives: Major thalassemic and hemophilic patients in regular need of blood and blood products are prone to risk of aquiring infections such as hepatitis and AIDS. High prevalence of such viral factors has been reported all over the world. In this study, the prevalence rates of hepatitis B, C, HIV and relevant factors were evaluated among hemophilic and thalassemic patients in Markazi province in the year 2004.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 68 hemophilic and 97 thalassemic patients were selected. The necessary information through questionnaires was gathered and the subjects were tested for markers of HIVAb, HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, and HCVAb through the ELISA method. HCV positive cases were confirmed by RIBA method. The results were evaluated regarding risk factors and demographic characteristics. Results were analysed through chi-square, fisher exact, t-test and logestic regression in SPSS software.Results: In all of the patients, HBsAg and HIVAb were negative. The prevalence rate of positive HCVAb was 7.2% in the thalassemic and 36.7% in the hemophilic patients. None of the thalassemic and hemophilic patients who had received blood and blood products after implementation of the screening program showed hepatitis C. In thalassemic patients, positive HCVAb showed significant correlation with the age, blood transfusion duration, and the number of administered blood units. In hemophilic patients, positive markers of HBsAb and HBcAb had significant correlation with consumption duration of coagulation factors and age average of patients.Conclusions: In this study, prevalence rates of hepatitis B and HIV were zero. In these patients, the prevalence rate of hepatitis C was higher especially in hemophilic patients and all of the positive cases were attributed to the period before 1996. The use of advanced methods, more sensitive tests, and virally inactivated factor concentrates are the ways of viral infection reduction in these patients.

Background and Objectives: This research was carried out to determine the prevalence of HBcAb among the HBsAg negative first-time blood donors who had referred to Khorramabad and Borujerd centers for blood donation.Materials and Methods: This study was established on a descriptive cross-sectional basis in which HBsAg test (ELISA) was primarily performed on all of the donors having referred to Khorramabad and Borujerd blood centers; then, out of all those referred 1000 subjects, who were first-time and HBsAg negative, were selected for furthur investigation. The information concerning age, gender, job, blood transfusion, and HBV vaccine injection was included in the questionnaire of the study. HBcAb (total & IgM) and HBsAb tests were performed on the selected donors. Data were collected and finally the prevalence rate of HBcAb was determined.Results: The results of the study showed that out of 1000 HBsAg-negative first-time blood donors, only 47 were HBcAb+, from which 27 were HBcAb (total)+, and 3 were HBcAb (IgM)+. 18 were both HBsAb+ and HBcAb+, and 53 were seropositive only for HBsAb.Conclusions: It was demonstrated that the first-time blood donors who are seronegative for HBsAg marker will be easily identified through HBcAb test if they are in the so-called core window period of the virus. Meanwhile, this group of donors have been implicated as high-risk for transfusiontransmitted HBV infection. So, detecting this marker will remarkably reduce the chance of latent cases of HBV infection and help promote blood safety.

Background and Objectives: Millions of lives are saved each year through blood transfusion. Although blood is a lifesaving element, it can occassionally cause some severe diseases. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and their known risk factors among Guilan blood donors from 1997 till 2002.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 221508 blood donors were referred to Guilan Blood Transfusion Center. ELISA test was performed for HBsAg and HCVAb detection. Positive cases of HBV and HCV were confirmed by neutralization and RIBA tests, respectively. Known risk factors including history of surgery, blood transfusion, and IV drug abuse were extracted from available medical documents for being evaluated. Results: 997 patients were HBsAg positive and 3603 HCVAb positive. After performing confirmation tests, the prevalence rates of HBsAg and HCVAb were 0.45% and 0.32%, respectively; the rates of both were higher in males. The most common risk factors were in order history of surgery and the history of dental procedure in the past decade. Conclusions: Due to several risk factors in blood donors, more studies are recommended in order to evaluate the correlation between prevalence of infections with one single risk factor as an independent variable without any factor intervening factors.

Background and Objectives: Transfusion medicine has a particular role as a multipurpose specialty. The risk of transfusion transmitted diseases (TTDs) in blood transfusion is one of the challenges to centers where blood transfusion is practiced. Since blood is only prepared from human as the source material, attention to TTDs in blood donor population is of importance; their prevalence rates may indicate of blood safety and infection prevalence in society. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 49820 recruited blood donors in Guilan Blood Transfusion Center were examined with census method during 2003-2005. Data of donors including HBsAg, HCVAb, and HIVAb status were extracted from computed profile of primary ELISA screening test. Confirmation tests including neutralization, RIBA and Blot would be performed, if ELISA was positive.Results: Among 49820 blood donors after confirmation tests, 225 showed TTDs including HBsAg+, HCVAb+, and HIVAb+. Overall prevalence rates of HBsAg+, HCVAb+, and HIVAb+ were 0.26%, 0.18%, and 0.008%, respectively. The average age of affected subjects was 35.5. 69.3% had donated at blood collection drives, and 77.3% were first-time blood donors. Conclusions: TTD prevalence rate in blood donors was 0.4%, much lower than general population. It emphasizes the importance of interviewing and retrieving past medical records as an easy, inexpensive, and reliable screening method for TTDs prevention.

Background and Objectives: In most of cases, Ig-M anti-I antibody is detectable in infectious mononucleosis patients both through agglutination in 4-22oC and in high titre of antibody at 37oC. Our objective in this study both to evaluate the sensitivity of some serological tests and detect anti-I antibodies in diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, red blood cells of horses and sheep were used to determine heterophil antibody; monocheck kit was used for the former and Paul-Bunnell Davidson kit for the latter. Fetal OI group from umbilical cord blood was also used to determine anti-I antibody. For this purpose, we prepared different suspensions for different laboratory examinations. For serological evaluations, monospot, Paul-Bunnell Davidson, and agglutination tests were performed; moreover, manual WBC counting was performed for hematological evaluations.Results: 90 patients with infectious mononucleosis were included in this study. 44% of the patients had antibody titre of more than 1/40 that was significantly more than that of the 6% of the control group. The results of the Paul–Bunnell Davidson test showed that antibody absorbtion level was more than 1.40 in 34% of the patients. In the control group, none of the subjects had antibody titre of more than 1.40. The results of the absorption of antibodies by cow RBCs showed that in 76% of cases antibody titre was zero compared to 55% in the control group. WBC counting in the majority of the patients with positive Paul-Bunnell Davidson showed an increase up to (14-15)× 109 cell/L. Lymphocytosis of more than 50% and atypical lymphocyte formation of more than 10% were also seen in the majority of these cases. Evaluation of the anti-I and anti-i antibodies showed no evidence of agglutination at the temperature of 4oC and 22oC using oi blood group of umbilical cord and OI blood group of mature red blood cells.Conclusions: The results showed very good correlation between monospot and Paul-Bunnell Davidson test. Hematological results of positive Paul-Bunnel Davidson showed remarkable changes in WBC count, lymphocytosis, and atypical lymphocyte formation. With the exposure of oi cord blood RBC to patients' plasma showed no evidence of agglutination at the temperature of 4°C, 22oC, and 37oC.

Background and Objectives: White blood cells (WBCs) are present in all cellular blood components which are prepared by standard techniques. Studies have shown that leucocytes can cause a variety of side effects after transfusion. Clinical reactions may be attributed to specific leucocyte subsets. Leukodepletion filters reduce leucocytes and some of their adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate leucocyte subpopulations in whole blood prior and after Prestorage filter leukodepletion; it was performed in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, different leukocyte subpopulations in whole blood were identified and quantified before and after filtration in a blood collection system having integral whole blood filtration (Baxter Fenwal, USA) equipped with RZ 2000 (Asahi, Japan) filters. Leucocytes were analysed by flowcytometry with monoclonal antibodies specific for CD45, CD19, CD3, CD14 and CD13. Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS software. Results: Leukodepletion by this type of filter reduced the leukocyte load by 2.8 log 10 on average. The proportion of PMNs (CD13+) and monocytes (CD14+) to total number of leucocytes (CD45+) significantly reduced, but that of CD3+ and CD19+ cells showed no considerable differences before and after filtration. Conclusions: This type of filter caused difference in leucocyte subset distribution after filtration. It appears that these distributions were cell size dependent. Filtration also reduced the absolute number of WBCs significantly.

Background and Objectives: Blood safety and the reduction of the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections such as hepatitis B in the window period are of importance. Blood donors with decreased risk of transfusion-transmitted infections are the best candidates for safe blood products to be ensured.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 8468 donors who were refferred to Hamedan Blood Transfusion Center were examined and HBsAg results were compared through ElISA method. The results were analysed by SPSS and Chi-square tests.Results: Out of 8468 donors, 2664 (31.5%) were first-time, 2864 (33.8%) regular and 2940 (34.7%) repeat donors. 7786 were male (91.9%) and 682 female (8.1%). The highest rates of positive HBsAg (40 cases) were attributed to first-time donors. Positive HBsAg was not found in regular blood donors.Conclusions: The probability of regular blood donors being infected with transfusion-transmitted infections considerably decreased due to continuous educational programs fostered by blood transfusion centers; moreover, complete screening tests are conducted in each donation attempt.