title: [Seropositivity for Chagas disease among blood donors in Araraquara, State of São Paulo, between 2004 and 2008].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood transfusion is an important potential source of Chagas disease transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Files from the Araraquara Regional Blood Center were checked regarding the tests results for Chagas' disease between January 2004 and December 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive serology was diagnosed in 0.04% of 49,541 blood donations that were performed. Seropositive individuals were aged between 51 and 60 years-old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low rate of seropositive donors may reduce the risk of transfusion transmission of Chagas disease. The high occurrence of inconclusive results indicates that the diagnostic methods must be improved.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia Aplicada à Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, SP. julio_crff@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Julio César Rente
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ferreira Filho
authors.forename: Paulo Inácio da
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buainain
authors.forename: João Aristeu da
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult