title: Clinical and epidemiological profile of blood donors with positive serology for viral hepatitis in southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positive serological tests for hepatitis viruses B and C at blood banks are an important reason for blood deferral. Additionally, high residual risk for transfusing hepatitis-contaminated blood has been estimated in southern Brazil. This study aimed to identify risk factors for positive serological tests for viral hepatitis (VH) in blood donors (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study included consecutive BD with positive serology for VH, between 2008 and 2009. Cases and controls (BD with negative serology for VH) were paired 1:1 by sex and donation date. Assessment of clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to viral hepatitis was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1,282 blood donors (641 cases and 641 controls), those with positive serology for viral hepatitis had higher mean age (p<0.001); higher proportion of replacement donation (p<0.001); first donation (p<0.001); and interviewer deferment (p=0.037), compared to controls. Furthermore, donors with positive tests were less regular donors (p<0.001), had less previous history of rejection (p=0.003) and showed lower hematocrit median before donation (p=0.019). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age (OR=1.056, 95%CI 1.042-1.069, p<0.001), replacement donation (OR=1.545, 95%CI 1.171-2.038, p=0.002) and first donation (OR=9.931, 95%CI 7.486-13.173, p<0.001) were independently associated with positivity of serological tests for viral hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific characteristics of blood donors were associated with positive serology for viral hepatitis. These peculiarities should be taken into account when assessing candidates for blood donation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde e de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC.
authors.forename: Luciana da
authors.initials: Ld
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Leonardo de Lucca
authors.initials: Lde L
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.forename: Kerley Pereira da
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Thiago Barbieri
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Marcos da Rocha
authors.initials: Mda R
authors.lastname: Zaccaron
authors.forename: Janaína Luz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Narciso-Schiavon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies