An estimate of the number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive blood donations by HIV-seronegative donors in a northern Thailand HIV epicenter.
Despite mandatory antibody testing, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted from HIV-infected blood that is seronegative. The objective of this study was to estimate the probability of HIV-infected blood donations during the seronegative "window period" in a northern Thailand HIV epicenter. Thus, a retrospective cohort of repeat blood donors was created. With the assumptions that the probability of HIV seroconversion is distributed uniformly between the last HIV-negative and the first HIV-positive donation and that the seronegative window is 45 days, the rate of window-period donations was calculated by multiplying the incidence by the window duration. Of 11,232 repeat donors, 273 seroconverted during 9,518,863 person-days of observation (i.e., a window-period donation rate of 1/775). There were more window-period donations among 21- to 30-year-old men and in donors replacing blood of friends or relatives. Additional measures are needed to reduce the high number of HIV-infected window-period donations.
Sawanpanyalert
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Ministry of Public Health, Bureau of Medical Technical Development, Department of Medical Services, Muang Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Yanai
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Kitsuwannakul
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Nelson
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013785:Thailand