Human immunodeficiency virus test-seeking blood donors in a large blood bank in São Paulo, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors are excluded from donation to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infection. Persons donating to be tested for HIV may therefore deny risk behaviors.


METHODS
A random sample of donors completed a survey on motivations, knowledge, and attitudes on the screening process. Donors were considered test seekers if they agreed with two statements "I think that blood donation is a good, fast, and anonymous way to get my blood tested" and "I donate to get my test results." This study was conducted from June to November 2006 at the largest blood bank in São Paulo, Brazil.


RESULTS
Of 3061 participants, 208 (7%) were test seekers. They tended to be male and had a lower educational level. They were more likely to have incorrect knowledge about blood safety (e.g., not knowing that a unit can test antibody negative and still transmit infection, 50% vs. 42%, p = 0.02), express dissatisfaction with screening questions (e.g., feeling that important questions were not asked, 14% vs. 5%, p < 0.01), and concur that donors do not answer questions truthfully (e.g., donors have more sexual partners than they admit, 29% vs. 18%, p < 0.01). Test seekers were more likely to believe that it is acceptable to donate blood to get tested for HIV (41% vs. 10%, p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Test-seeking motivation, coupled with low knowledge of window period risk, is counter to improving blood safety and to donor prevention needs. Donor education needs to be improved along with availability of appropriate HIV counseling and testing.
Goncalez
Thelma
T
Department of Hematology, São Paulo University, Fundacão Pro-Sangue/Hemocentro São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sabino
Ester
E
Sales
Nanci
N
Chen
Yea-Hung
YH
Chamone
Dalton
D
Busch
Michael
M
Murphy
Edward
E
Custer
Brian
B
McFarland
Willi
W
D000328:Adult; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D015483:HIV Antibodies
Transfusion. 2007 Apr;47(4):608-14
17381618
AIDS. 2009 Jul 31;23(12):1595-8
19512858
Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2006 May;6(3):399-411
16706742
Public Health Rep. 2001;116 Suppl 1:216-22
11889287
JAMA. 1997 Mar 26;277(12):967-72
9091668
Transfusion. 2005 Feb;45(2):171-80
15660824
Transfus Med. 2007 Jun;17(3):200-4
17561863
Transfus Med Rev. 2007 Jan;21(1):13-25
17174217
Transfusion. 2004 May;44(5):651-7
15104644
Transfusion. 2003 Feb;43(2):165-72
12559011
Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2009 Jul;4(4):294-9
19532067
Transfusion. 1991 Oct;31(8):704-9
1926313
Vox Sang. 2010 Apr;98(3 Pt 1):e231-40
19765268
Vox Sang. 2001 Jan;80(1):24-7
11339064
N Engl J Med. 1996 Jun 27;334(26):1685-90
8637512
Vox Sang. 1992;62(1):25-8
1580063
Transfusion. 1994 Oct;34(10):870-6
7940658
AIDS Behav. 2008 Jul;12(4 Suppl):S39-47
18389356
AIDS. 2009 Jul 31;23(12):1589-94
19474649
Transfusion. 2005 Nov;45(11):1709-14
16271094
Vox Sang. 2006 Apr;90(3):170-6
16507016
Transfusion. 2001 Dec;41(12):1480-5
11778060
AIDS Care. 2002 Aug;14(4):481-92
12204151
Vox Sang. 2010 Feb;98(2):138-44
19754523
Transfusion. 2005 Feb;45(2):254-64
15660836
Biologicals. 2009 Apr;37(2):62-70
19230706
N Engl J Med. 2004 Aug 19;351(8):760-8
15317889
Lancet. 1996 Mar 30;347(9005):902
8622417
AIDS. 2006 Jan 2;20(1):73-83
16327322