Seroprevalence of hiv and hepatitis viruses in directed blood donors: a preliminary report

Abstract

Background: The seroprevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B viruses in directed blood donors is lacking in this environment. Some patients anticipating the need for transfusion have turned to family members and friends as a means of protecting themselves against these transfusiontransmissible infections. Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B viruses in directed blood donors in Nguru and also to see if there is co-infection of these viruses in this category of donor population. Method: This is a prospective study carried out at the blood bank of the Federal Medical Centre Nguru, Yobe State between January 2005 to July 2005. Consent were obtained from all prospective donors before collection of blood sample for the screening. Results: Two hundred and fifty four prospective directed blood donors were screened for the presence of HIV and Hepatitis B viruses in their blood. Twenty two (8.7%) of the directed blood donors were positive for HIV while 3 donors (1.2%) were positive for Hepatitis B virus. Only 1 (0.4%) was positive for both HIV and Hepatitis B viruses. Conclusion: Directed blood donors are not safer than homologous blood donors. There is the need to screen all prospective blood donors irrespective of the donor category for all transfusion-transmissible infections so as to prevent the spread of these viruses through blood transfusion. Keywords: seroprevalence, HIV & Hepatitis B, directed blood donors Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 3(2) 2005: 76-80

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