- Authors:
- DOI:
- 10.1111/tme.12279
- Abstract:
- OBJECTIVE: To implement and describe a novel syphilis screening strategy for blood donors. BACKGROUND: The seroprevalence of syphilis in blood donors is often high in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) although the proportion of infectious donations is probably low. Syphilis screening may not happen at all; or the use of non-specific screening tests, which have high false positive rates, results in many donations being discarded unnecessarily. This can have a critical effect on already inadequate blood supplies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood donors were screened at the time of donation with an anti-treponemal rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and blood collected irrespective of the result. Units screening negative for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C were released to stock. RDT screen-positive units were re-tested with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) - units testing negative were released to stock and test-positive units discarded. RESULTS: Of the 2213 blood donors, 182 (8·2%; 182/2213) screened positive by RDT. In addition, 38 out of these 182 (20·9%) were RPR positive on post-donation testing. Over 2 months there was a 79% reduction in blood units discarded due to a positive syphilis screen. CONCLUSION: In other LMIC, this novel strategy can contribute to improving blood safety without jeopardising blood supply.
- Type:
- Journal article
- Language:
- English
- Published in:
- Transfusion Medicine, 2016, Vol 26, Issue 1, p. 63-6
- Keywords:
- Journal Article; Adult; Blood Donors; Donor Selection; Female; Ghana; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Syphilis
- Main Research Area:
- Medical science
- Publication Status:
- Published
- Review type:
- Peer Review
- Submission year:
- 2017
- Scientific Level:
- Scientific
- ID:
- 2291790422