Comparison of prevalence rates of microbiological markers between bone/tissue donations and new blood donors in Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
Blood-borne virus prevalence rates of samples accompanying tissue donors are not widely available. This article compares the rates in Scottish bone/tissue donors with those of new blood donors for the 7-year period, 1998-2004.


METHODS
Data were collated from existing internal reports. Age distributions of the donor populations were obtained by extracting information from existing computer databases.


RESULTS
Scottish bone/tissue donors were found to have a fourfold higher prevalence for hepatitis B virus (HBV), a 1.6-fold higher prevalence for hepatitis C virus (HCV), an 11-fold higher prevalence for human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and a 34-fold higher prevalence for syphilis compared with new blood donors. Excluding confirmed positives, the repeat-reactive rates for bone/tissue donors were similar to those of new blood donors.


CONCLUSIONS
The data demonstrated that the prevalence of blood-borne viruses in Scottish bone/tissue donors is higher than in new blood donors. We believe that the different age profiles of the two donor populations plays a significant role.
Galea
G
G
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Tissue Services Directorate, Edinburgh, UK.
Dow
B C
BC
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001782:Blood Donors; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D012367:RNA, Viral