title: Positive serology for viral hepatitis and donor self-exclusion in Southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the great advances in serological testing for transfusion-transmitted infections, the selection of blood donors by blood bank operators remains the only way to avoid transmission within the testing window period. Part of this selection is the self-exclusion form, on which the donors can exclude their blood from donation without any explanation. This study assessed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to positivity for viral hepatitis and to the use of the confidential self-exclusion (CSE) form.
  
  
  METHODS
  This transversal study analyzed the data collected from blood donors' files in a hospital in Southern Brazil. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the clinical and epidemiological variables related to positive serologies of viral hepatitis and to whether the donor was self-excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3,180 donors included in this study, 0.1% tested positive for HBsAg, 2.1% for anti-HBc, and 0.9% for anti-HCV. When the 93 donors with positive serologies for viral hepatitis were compared with those who were negative, a greater proportion of the positive serology group was found to have had a history of blood transfusions (OR=4.908; 95%CI=1.628 - 14.799; p<0.01), had repeatedly donated (OR=2.147; 95%CI=1.236 - 3.729; p<0.01), and used the CSE form for self-exclusion (OR=7.139; 95%CI=2.045 - 24.923; p<0.01). No variables were independently associated with self-exclusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A history of blood transfusion, repeated donations, and self-exclusion are factors that should be considered during viral hepatitis screenings in blood banks.
authors: Núcleo de Estudos em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis,SC.
authors: Julia De Luca
authors: Jde L
authors: Maccarini
authors: Carlos Alberto Kuntz
authors: CA
authors: Nazario
authors: Jovino Dos Santos
authors: Jdos S
authors: Ferreira
authors: William Queiroz Guimarães Wiegandt
authors: WQ
authors: Ceglio
authors: Rômulo Cavalcante
authors: RC
authors: Serpa
authors: Vera Lúcia Paes Cavalcanti
authors: VL
authors: Ferreira
authors: Leonardo de
authors: Ld
authors: Lucca Schiavon
authors: Janaína Luz
authors: JL
authors: Narciso-Schiavon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction