title: Trends in transfusion transmitted infections among replacement blood donors in karachi, pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C and Human Immunodeficiency infections in replacement blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2004 to December 2011, 108,598 apparently healthy donors donated blood at our Blood Bank. Screening was done by Microparticle Enzyme Immuno Assay (MEIA) method on Axsym System (Abbott Diagnostic, USA) and in year 2011 by Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CIA) method on Architect i2000 (Abbott Diagnostic, USA). From 2010 onward, HIV reactive donors were advised for confirmatory tests and reported back with the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 108,598 total donors, 108,393 (99.8%) were replacement donors with a mean age of 28.92 (17-55) years. Of this, only 164 (0.15%) were females. Among the replacement donors, 4,906 (4.5%) were found to be reactive for Hepatitis-B, C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus. All the reactive patients, except one, were males. HbsAg was positive in 2,068 (1.90%) and anti-HCV in 2832 (2.61%) donors, while 111 (0.10%) were positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Co-infectivity was observed in 103 (0.09%) cases. The prevalence appeared to be higher in younger age group (17-30 yrs). Only 16.6% cases should be patients returned with results of the confirmatory tests for HIV and were found positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis-B and C sero-prevalence in our series of replacement donors appears high compared to most studies from neighboring countries and relatively low in comparison to earlier studies from Pakistan. Prevalence of HIV, however, appears low and turn out of HIV positive cases for confirmatory tests is low.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None declared.
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital, Department of Haematology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital, Department of Haematology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hasan Abbas
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Zaheer
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital, Department of Haematology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Hospital, Department of Haematology, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baig
keywords: HIV; Hepatitis-B; Hepatitis-C; Replacement Blood Donors