Blood donations and donors' profile in Lithuania: Trends for coming back after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected blood donors worldwide. It is important for the blood service to return to its pre-pandemic level as soon as possible and to perform its functions fully. This study compared the donation and demographic profiles of blood and its component donors one year before and during three pandemic years in Lithuania. All blood and blood component donations (n = 413,358) and demographic characteristics of all donors from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023, were analyzed. All data were obtained from annual publications, and statistics were obtained from the Blood Donor Register. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Following a 9.41 percent decrease in the first year of the pandemic, the quantity of blood and blood component donations increased by 3.49 percent in the third year compared to the pre-pandemic year. Throughout the three years of the pandemic, a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of first-time blood and blood component donations was observed. Both the number and proportion of donations by donors under 25 years old decreased during the pandemic. The proportion of pre-donation deferrals for all attempts to donate significantly decreased during the pandemic. There was a statistically significant lower prevalence of all positive transfusion-transmitted infectious (TTI) markers among all donations compared to the pre-pandemic year for all three pandemic years. The odds for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and all TTI markers during the second and third pandemic years were significantly lower than those in the pre-pandemic year. In conclusion, most dimensions of blood and its component donations and donor characteristics have returned to pre-pandemic levels or show positive trends. However, the major concern is the remaining decrease in donations from first-time and donors under 25 years old.

Antibodies to Hepatitis B core antigen prevalence study in Kazakhstan.

INTRODUCTION: Kazakhstan is being considered medium-endemic for Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). HBV remains transmissible by direct exposure to infected blood or organic fluids. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HBcore and the risk factors impacting positive anti-HBcore markers among donors at Scientific-Production Center of Transfusiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples taken from blood donors were tested for anti-HBcore, by the chemiluminescence immunoassay method on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). In case of positive anti-HBcore, the blood samples were further tested for anti-HBs on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) indicators were tested by kinetic method on the Biosystems A25 analyzer. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.1, 2021). RESULTS: Five thousand seven hundred and nine people aged 18-66 years included in the study, the proportion of men and women was 68.17% and 31.83%, respectively. The average age of the participants was 35.7 ± 10.57 years. The prevalence of anti-HBcore among donors was 17.2% (983). Among participants with elevated ALT (170), this marker was determined in 23%, and for donors with normal levels of ALT (5539)-17%. Participants with positive anti-HBcore scores were on average older (41.8 vs. 34.4 years, p < .001) and Kazakhs (88.7% vs. 83.0%, p < .001) by nationality than study participants with negative results of anti-HBcore. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HBcore prevalence in Kazakhstan (17.2%) compared with other countries (Croatia 7%, France 7%, Germany 9%, Iran 16%, Malaysia 20%, respectively) remains above average. Given the prevalence of HBV and risk factors, it is recommended to include an additional anti-HBcore marker in the mandatory screening of donated blood in the Kazakhstan Republic and improve preventive measures to prevent HBV transmission by blood transfusions.