title: Objective identification of sexual risk behavior among blood donors in Croatia: is it reality?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of blood donors positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), to identify the patterns of sexual risk behavior responsible for HSV-2 positivity and to assess the reliability of HSV-2 positivity as a marker of sexual risk behavior in the study population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 423 blood donors of both sexes from eastern Croatia. Their blood samples were tested by ELISA IgG test kit for HSV-2 IgG and Western blot. Data on sexual risk behavior were collected by use of an anonymous questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Western blot testing showed HSV-2 IgG antibodies in 14 of 423 (3.3%) donor blood samples. The most common patterns of sexual risk behavior potentially associated with test positivity were irregular condom use during sexual intercourse with new partners (294/423; 69.5%) and > or = 5 sexual partners during lifetime (213/423; 50.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The population of blood donors from eastern Croatia included subgroups of subjects characterized by sexual risk behavior. Study results pointed to a relationship between various forms of sexual risk behavior and HSV-2 positivity, which could therefore serve as a reliable marker of sexual risk behavior in the study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia. maja.miskulin@inet.hr
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miskulin
authors.forename: Dinko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puntaric
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bozikov
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miskulin
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruzman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G