title: The prevalence and trends of transfusion-transmissible infectious pathogens among first-time, voluntary blood donors in Xi'an, China between 1999 and 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of infectious diseases is increasing in developing countries, and this may threaten the biological safety of donated blood. This study analyzed trends in the prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infectious pathogens among Chinese, first-time, voluntary blood donors from 1999 to 2009 to evaluate the potential for disease transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2009, all first-time donors at the Xi'an Blood Service (XBS) were screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); results were confirmed using alternative commercial kits. The prevalence and temporal trends were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test and other appropriate methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1999 to 2009, 263 299 first-time blood donors were analyzed. The overall prevalence rates were 1.16% for HBV, 0.51% for HCV, 0.02% for HIV, and 0.31% for syphilis. There was a significant decrease in the trend for HBV and HCV infections, while a significant increase was found for syphilis. The prevalence of HIV infection remained low and stable during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that HBV infection is the primary threat to blood safety, while the increasing prevalence of syphilis might also be a potential threat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The Fourth Military Medical University, No. 17, Changle West Road, Xi'an, China 710032.
authors.forename: Zhao-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Cui-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yao-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qun-Xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Zhong-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D058731:Blood Safety; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction