title: Comparison of the prevalence of major transfusion-transmitted infections among Iranian blood donors using confidential unit exclusion in an Iranian population: Transfusion-transmitted infections among Iranian blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nucleic acid amplification testing is recommended for screening blood donations; however, they are not widely available in developing countries such as Iranian. Confidential unit exclusion (CUE) gives blood donors the opportunity to confidentially indicate whether their blood is or is not suitable for transfusion to others. Hoewever, its effectiveness in improving blood safety has recently been questioned by the blood banking community.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of CUE in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on transfusion-transmitted disease markers (HBs Ag, HCV Ab, HIV Ab, RPR) were extracted from a database of voluntary blood donations in 2006 at the Tehran Blood Transfusion Center. The prevalence of markers were compared between CUE-positive ("should not use") and CUE-negative ("can be used") donations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CUE-positive donations had significantly higher risk of HBV and HCV markers (odds ratio (95% confidence interval)7.5 (5.4-10.5) and 5.3 (2.5-11.3), respectively). No HIV or syphilis markers were detected in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CUE is an effective option for identifying donors with increased risk of HBV and HCV markers.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) Research Center, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omidkhoda
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gharehbaghian
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jamali
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadbeigi
authors.forename: Seyed Mahmoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Abas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
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