Donor notification and response rate of sero-reactive blood donors: a challenge and long way to go

ABSTRACT

Background: Supply of safe blood starts with healthy voluntary non remunerated blood donors. Blood donor screening and testing for TTI has become stringent all over the world. A fundamental part of preventing TTI is to notify and counsel reactive donors which help in preventing secondary transmission of infectious disease.Methods: This observational descriptive study is done to determine the number of contacted TTI reactive donors and their response rate after notification of their abnormal tests. It includes all the sero-reactive donors from July 2015 to June 2016 in the department of IHBT, GGSMCH. Blood donors who were sero-reactive for any TTI were recalled and tested again with ELISA kit of different manufacturer or lot number and by rapid card tests. Donors’ sero reactive on repeat testing were informed, counseled and referred to ICTC (for HIV) or Physician (for hepatitis B and hepatitis C). Confidentiality was maintained at every level.Results: During the study period, numbers of blood donors were 12621, out of which 343 blood donors were found to be sero-reactive. 23 donors were HIV, 230 Hepatitis C, 90 were HBsAg reactive. We could contact 182 out of 343 sero reactive donors telephonically. 161 sero-reactive did not attend blood bank phone call or their contact number was changed. Amongst the 182 contacted donors, 72 donors responded for the notification call and attended counseling.Conclusions: Response rate among reactive donors is quite low and a big challenge. This shows poor health care knowledge and social stigma regarding TTI among donors.