Prevalence of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections and Its Association With Blood Groups Among Blood Donors at the Blood Bank of a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Background Safe blood transfusion remains a challenge, and transmission of infections is always a concern. The detection of infectious diseases in blood donors ensures the safety of blood transfusion. Another challenge is the differences in blood group antigens due to the ability of clinically significant antibodies to cause adverse reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of distribution and the possible correlation of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) with different blood groups. This study also aimed to evaluate the frequencies of minor blood group antigens detected on screening in a few infected blood donors. Methodology This study included replacement donors who were fit to donate blood after screening. After blood donation, tests for TTIs was done using the chemiluminescence immunoassay for hepatitis B virus (HBV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis B virus (HCV), and rapid diagnostic kits were used for malaria and syphilis. Blood grouping was performed by IMMUCOR'S NEO IRIS instrument using commercial antisera. Samples of blood donors infected with TTIs over the study period of two months were also tested for minor antigens. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Software, version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results In total, 46,549 blood donors were included, of whom 3,064 (6.6%) donors were reactive for TTIs, with the most prevalent being HBV infection (n = 1,183, 2.5%). In this study, 2.4% (n = 23) of the total B-negative blood donors were HCV reactive (χ² = 4.3, p = 0.038; statistically significant), and 0.9% (n = 8) of the total B-negative blood donors were malaria reactive (Fisher's exact test = 11.06, p = 0.001; statistically significant). Blood donors with A-positive blood group were significantly associated with syphilis infection (χ² = 3.86, p = 0.05). The Fyb antigen was relatively more prevalent among HIV-reactive donors (n = 24, 77.4%), while E (n = 3, 9.7%) and c (n = 13, 41.9%) antigens were relatively lesser prevalent compared to other infected donors. Similarly, malaria-reactive donors had a lower prevalence of C antigen (n = 17, 73.9%) and a higher prevalence of E antigen (n = 8, 34.8%). The most common Rh phenotype found among all the TTI-infected reactive donors was CCDee, and among the Rh-negative infected donors, ccdee was the only phenotype observed. Conclusions This study determined the regional prevalence of TTIs among blood donors and noted a significant association of B-negative blood group with HCV and malaria. This study also assessed the frequency of some minor blood group antigens among TTI-infected blood donors.

Keywords: blood bank; blood donors; blood group antigens; blood groups; transfusion-transmitted infections.