title: Prevalence of p24 antigen among a cohort of HIV antibody negative blood donors in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria--the question of safety of blood transfusion in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood transfusions remain a substantial source of HIV in SSA particularly among children and pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of p24 antigen among HIV antibody seronegative blood donors in Sokoto, North West Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15,061 HIV antibody negative blood donors with mean age and age range (29.2 ± 8.18 and 18-50 years) were screened for p24 antigen between January 2010 to July 2013 using the Diapro Diagnostic immunoassay kit for P24 antigen (King Hawk Pharmaceuticals Beijing China).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of p24 antigen among the HIV antibody negative donors sample was 5.84%. The yearly prevalence was 9.79, 8.12, 2.7 and 2.84% respectively in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Of the total number of blood donor tested, 14,968 (99.38%) were males while 93 (0.62%) were females. The prevalence of P24 antigen was significantly higher among male blood donors 873 (5.8%) compared to females 7(0.05%), (p= 0.001). P24 positivity was significantly higher among blood group O blood donors compared to A, B and AB donors (494 (3.29%) compared to 184 (1.89%), 196 (1.30%) and 6 (0.04%)) respectively, p = 0.001). The prevalence of P24 antigen was significantly higher among Rhesus positive blood donors compared to Rhesus negative (807 (5.36%) versus 73 (0.48%), p =0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood transfusion in Nigeria is associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. There is the urgent need to optimize the screening of blood donors in Nigeria by the inclusion of p24 antigen testing into the blood donor screening menu. The Nigerian government urgently need to adopt the WHO blood safety strategies to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV through blood transfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Erhabor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
authors.forename: Ndakotsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zama
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Abdulrahaman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yakubu
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
authors.forename: Ikhuenbor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dorcas
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
authors.forename: Aghedo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Festus
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kwaifa
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sani
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D058731:Blood Safety / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000592:standards; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
keywords: Nigeria; P24 antigen; blood donors; blood transfusion; safety