Risk factors of viral hepatitis: yet to explore.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The safety of donated blood is the most vital concern of a blood transfusion organization. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for blood transfusion products has gained more importance where knowing the prevalence rate will help health policy makers. In this paper, we will evaluate the prevalence of viral infection in donated blood in the province of Qazvin in 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study has been conducted using a registration system of computerized records for donors in Qazvin in 2009 using the consensus mode on 20,591 blood donors. The results of their HBV, HCV, and HIV viral markers were evaluated and analyzed using the chi square statistical test. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of HBV, HCV, and HIV viral markers using the ELISA primary test in the individuals studied has been 0.28%, 1.59% and 0.1%, respectively, and on the basis of their confirmatory tests, 0.23%, 0.17% and 0%, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference in their infection rate on the basis of sex and marital status. Regular donors (46.85%) had a smaller infection rate compared to others (P<0.005). There was a significant statistical difference in the rate of prevalence of infection for hepatitis B and C in the regular donors compared to first-time donors. CONCLUSION: Considering the lower prevalence of viral markers in regular donors it is recommended that more use be made of them for blood donation.

Successful exclusion of blood-borne viral disease in blood donors.

BACKGROUND: All blood transfusion services have various rules to insure that blood products are kept safe for transfusion. Donor selection is crucial in providing safe blood. We propose in our study to determine the influence of donor selection on blood safety. METHODS: In this case-control study, donors who were referred to the Qazvin Blood Transfusion Organization during 2007-2009 were selected. Based on a special questionnaire, all blood donors were examined by physicians and every donor was categorized as one of two types of rejected donors (high risk and low risk) or as accepted donors. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13.0, using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, where P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Single donors, the self-employed, the unemployed and students were banned from donation due to high-risk criteria (P<0.0001, 0.003). Female donors were banned from donation due to low-risk criteria. Hepatitis B was more prevalent among cases rejected for donation due to high-risk criteria than among healthy controls (P=0.014); but not so for hepatitis C (P=0.058). Hepatitis B was not significantly more prevalent among those cases rejected for donation due to low-risk criteria, than among healthy cases. CONCLUSION: Those having a history of unsafe sexual conduct and intravenous drug abusers and their spouses are at risk for hepatitis C. Cases rejected for donation due to low-risk criteria were banned from donation to maintain the donors' health, while other cases with low-risk criteria were banned to guarantee the blood recipients' health.