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Background and Objectives Blood transfusion is a modality of knowledge important for health care personnel to know about its different aspects. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of health care personnel in two hospitals of Zahedan about blood products, blood use, and adverse reactions. Materials and Methods In a study in two hospitals of Zahedan, 170 randomly selected employees from the hospital wards with the highest level of blood use participated. Data were collected via a questionnaire. For data analysis, SPSS, chi-square tests, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used. Results The average knowledge score of the personnel of Khatam Hospital was estimated to be 11.13 ± 3.68 and Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital 13.31 ± 2.19. The average knowledge score of the two hospitals was 12.34 ± 3.13 with one hospital being significantly more knowledgeable than the other. But there was no correlation between age, gender, education, and work experience with the knowledge level (p > 0.01). Conclusions The results showed that the average knowledge score of health care personnel about blood transfusion is low at the two hospitals in Zahedan. Therefore, an academic course about blood transfusion should be dedicated to medical students in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives The most common marker used for HBV infection diagnosis in blood donors is screening for HBsAg. The failure of HBsAg detection in blood donors cause of either the window period, or the mutation in S gene, or the reduction in the antigen synthesis can lead to transfusion-transmitted HBV in blood recipients. There have been reported hepatitis cases following the transfusion of anti-HBc positive blood and blood components. The prevalence of anti-HBc in populations is proportional to the prevalence of HBsAg. It is better then for studies about the prevalence of anti-HBc to be conducted in HBV highly prevalent regions. Thus, the aim of this study was to survey anti-HBc and anti-HBs prevalence rates in blood donors in Sistan-o-Baluchestan. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1500 HBsAg negative samples were collected from Sistan-o-Baluchestan and tested for anti-HBc. All anti-HBc positive samples were tested for anti-HBs. All data were analyzed statistically using Chi-square test. Results Out of 1500 blood donors who were negative for HBsAg, 144 (9.6%) were positive for anti-HBc with 74.3% having the immunity titer of anti-HBs. Conclusions In this study, the prevalence rate of anti-HBc was very high. Most of anti-HBc positive blood donors were positive for anti-HBs. Therefore, screening of blood donors for anti-HBc can limit the storage of blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Transfusion transmitted malaria is an ever present risk in endemic areas and the real threat for blood safety. There is a need for an effective malaria screening program and development of donor deferral criteria for the country. We evaluated the potential usefulness of Elisa screening for malaria antibody and antigen, thick and thin blood film, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among Zahedan blood donors. Materials and Methods A total number of 384 blood donors in Zahedan in 2009 were screened for malaria parasite by thick and thin blood film using giemsa staining technique, Elisa antibody and antigen test, and PCR. Results The overall malaria antibody prevalence was 4.7%. In blood donors living in endemic regions, where there were reports for local Malaria transmission, the rate was 7.9%. The results of all antigen test, thick and thin blood films, and PCR were negative. Conclusions The present donor deferral system seems optimal at present; however, a small risk of transfusion transmitted malaria remains. In an endemic region like Sistan and Baluchestan the use of Elisa antibody test was an interesting alternative for the screening of blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]