title: Prevalence and trends of transfusion-transmitted infections among blood donors in Tehran, Iran from 2008 to 2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of trends in the rate of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) in blood donors is essential for monitoring blood supply safety and donor screening effectiveness. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis seromarkers among blood donors referred to Tehran Blood Transfusion Center (TBTC) from 2008 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of all blood donors referred to TBTC between 2008 and 2013 were collected. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis infections were expressed by donation year and donors' characteristics (age, gender, educational level and donor status).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1,796,090 individuals who donated blood at TBTC from 2008 to 2013, analysis of trend for the prevalence of HBV showed a significant decrease from 423 to 153 per 10(5) donors. The similar pattern of decrease was observed for the prevalence of HCV from 139 to 69 per 10(5) donors, however the rate of decrease in HCV prevalence was slower than the rate of decrease in HBV prevalence. The prevalence of HIV was constant while the prevalence of syphilis showed a sharp decrease in 2009 and a constant prevalence from 2010 to 2013. The top three parameters influenced the rate of TTIs were donor status, age, and educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreasing prevalence and trends of TTIs among the studied donors demonstrated that the safety measures which were employed in recent years in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization have been effective.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran; Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, Iran; Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshvari
authors.affiliation: Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, Iran; Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Heidar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharafi
authors.affiliation: Middle East Liver Disease (MELD) Center, Tehran, Iran; Iran Hepatitis Network, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehrabadi
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: sima.zolf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zolfaghari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission
keywords: Blood donation; Blood transfusion; HBV; HCV; HIV; Syphilis