title: Pre-donation screening of blood for transfusion transmissible infections: the gains and the pains - experience at a resource limited blood bank.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether or not pre-donation testing of blood donors affords substantial cost savings without compromise to blood transfusion safety. Pre-donation testing of blood donors for Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) is done in most developing countries because substantial cost savings are made from resources, materials and man-hours which would have been spent to procure infected blood units. Simple rapid test kits used in pre-donation testing is not as sensitive as the Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA) method used in post-donation screening in a quality assured manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a retrospective study where records of pre- and post-donation tests done in donor clinic of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, between January and December 2010 were retrieved. All processes and inputs were evaluated and costs calculated for pre-donation testing by simple rapid techniques and post donation screening by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5000 prospective donors were tested in the study period. The cost of single rapid Pre-donation testing was less than that of single ELISA Post-donation screen. The cost of double rapid Pre-donation and Post donation ELISA screen exceeded the cost of single post donation ELISA screen. Substantial cost savings were made when single rapid Pre-donation testing is relied on. More blood units were found reactive for the TTIs with the more expensive Post-donation ELISA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-donation testing of blood donors was not cost effective. Although, there is an apparent savings if pre-donation testing is not followed by post-donation ELISA testing, it is done at a compromise to blood transfusion safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Shittu
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin.
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Olawumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Ilorin.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Adewuyi
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000191:economics*; D001782:Blood Donors; D058731:Blood Safety / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods
keywords: TTIs screening; post-donation; pre-donation