title: Silent killers: Transfusion Transmissible Infections-TTI, among asymptomatic population of Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse transfusion transmissible infections in asymptomatic population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from December 2014 to November 2015, and comprised healthy asymptomatic blood donors.Every sample was screened for the presence of antibodies/antigens of hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, treponemapallidum, hepatitis B virus and malaria parasite through rapid immunochromatographic technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 18,274 blood donors, 17,276(94.53%) were found healthy and 998(5.46%) were infected. Besides, 71(0.38%) had multiple infections. The overall frequency of anti-hepatitis C virus, treponemapallidum (syphilis), hepatitis B surface antigen, malaria parasite and anti-human immunodeficiency virus was 480(2.62%), 284(1.55%), 210(1.10%), 20(0.10%) and 4(0.02%), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood transfusion was found to be a significant but preventable mode of spread of transfusion transmissible infections.
authors.affiliation: Medical Lab Technologist, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Scientific Officer, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.affiliation: Medical Lab Technologist, Institute of Blood Transfusion Services, Lahore.
authors.forename: Maqsood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Pathology, Post Graduate Medical College, Lahore.
authors.forename: Mizna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.affiliation: Pathology, Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Tariq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hamid Rahmani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies
keywords:  TTI, Asymptomatic Blood Donors, ICT.