title: Seven Years Trends in Prevalence of Transfusion-Transmissible Viral Infections in Yazd blood Transfusion Organization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing blood supply safety is one of the most important goals of blood services in the world. In this study, we reviewed the prevalence rate and the trends of three main infections in whole blood donations and strategies for improving blood safety in Yazd blood transfusion center, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional study, data on hepatitis B, C and HIV infection were extracted from Iranian Donor Database of blood donation from 2004 to 2010 in Yazd province. All donors with positive confirmatory test were included. The data was analyzed by SPSS software due to demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of hepatitis B, C and HIV infection decreased during these years (From 0.37%, 0.14% and 0 percent in 2004 to 0.14%, 0.05% and 0 in 2010, respectively). Both hepatitis B and C infections were significantly more in first-time blood donors with BSc or BA educational level. The prevalence rate of hepatitis B was significantly higher in donors with less than 20 year-old and female donors. The prevalence rate of hepatitis C was higherin30-39 age group (P-value= 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that the strategies used for improving blood safety were efficient. Increasing public knowledge on blood-borne infections and their routes of transmission, importance of donating blood only by healthy donors are necessary to have a safe blood supply in future.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Javadzadeh Shahshahani
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor of Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor of Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mansouri
keywords: Blood Donors; HCV; HIV; Iran; Prevalence