title: Trends in the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in Albania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to determine the trend of transfusion transmitted infection in blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study 52727 blood donors were retrospectively evaluated for markers of hepatitis B, C, HIV(1/2), and syphilis. To screen the blood donors for HIV(1/2)(HIV(1/2) Ag/Ab COMBO, ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany), the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) method was used. For HBsAg and anti-HCV third generation MEIA kits (ABBOTT Laboratory, Delkenheim, Germany) were used and for the syphilis RPR test the Biokit SA (Barcelona, Spain) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 52,727 donors were tested within the five year period, of which 15 (0.03%), 3531 (6.7%), 323 (0.6%), and 35 (0.07%) were positive for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis, respectively. The prevalence of TTI in blood donors was 7.4%. It increased steadily from 5.1% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2006, stayed in same level in 2007, and decreased to 8.1% in 2008. Distribution of transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) based on donor status was 13.8% in first time commercial remunerated blood donors, 9.4% in first time voluntary blood donors, and 9.7% in family replacement blood donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results in this study showed that family replacement donors are more likely to transmit transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) than voluntary donors, but are safer than commercial blood donors. So blood transfusion services should work on replacement of family blood donors with voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Directory Ministry of Health, Albania. vdurro@moh.gov.al
authors.forename: Vjollca
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durro
authors.forename: Andi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koraqi
authors.forename: Sadik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saliasi
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens