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Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sociodemographic factors on knowledge, attitudes, motivation and potential barriers of university students towards blood donation in the order to more effective donation promotion., Design: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 1000 participants (500 non-blood donors-NBD, 276 first time blood donors-FTBD and 224 regular blood donors-RBD) from the 14 faculties of the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. The measurement tool used was a pretested survey questionnaire that included 22 questions focused on the factors influencing blood donation., Results: Males accounted for 61.5% of participants. Average age of participants was 23.19 years, and over 80% were pursuing basic academic studies. University students: (1) correctly answered 65% of the questions about blood donation (NBD 59.2%, FTBD 59.7%, RBD 84.3%); (2) expressed 70.5% positive attitude towards donating blood (NBD 58.6%, FTBD 76.9%, RBD 89.1%), in both cases statistically significantly higher in RBD. Helping others who need blood (47.5%) was the main reason for donating blood and fear of needles (41.4%) was the most common potential barrier, with a significant statistical difference among the other factors., Conclusions: The study demonstrates that university students show good knowledge and philanthropic attitude towards blood donation. Donation promotion should be focused on addressing potential barriers., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: Blood donors are crucial in maintaining the blood supply chain. This study aims to improve the location and distribution of blood donation centers by focusing on two main objectives: minimizing costs and maximizing quality. Minimizing costs includes setting up and transporting blood efficiently while maximizing quality to ensure that blood products are delivered to hospitals promptly and in the right quantities., Methods: A multi-objective mathematical model is proposed to address the placement of both fixed and mobile blood donation centers. The first objective focuses on minimizing the costs of setting up centers and transporting blood. The second objective aims to maximize quality by ensuring timely deliveries and meeting hospitals' blood demand. The model utilizes real-world traffic and blood donation data from urban settings to simulate its effectiveness and applicability in practice. The model uses the ε constraint method to optimize both objectives simultaneously., Results: The model was tested in various scenarios, optimizing cost and quality separately. The algorithm determined the ideal locations for blood donation centers to meet demand by exploring different options. It also accounted for factors that reduce quality, such as delayed deliveries and product returns, and showed that these issues could be minimized., Conclusion: This study highlights the need to balance cost and quality when determining the locations of blood donation centers. Using the ε constraint method, the model successfully optimized both objectives, offering valuable insights for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of blood donation operations., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This research does not involve human subjects, human material, or human data. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Timely access to safe blood and blood components is still a challenge in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine blood donation practices, processing and utilization of blood components across government tertiary hospitals (THs) in Nigeria., Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in Nigeria in June-July 2020. Data were analysed with SPSS version 21.0., Results: Data were collected from 50 THs. The majority (68%) of the THs lack facilities for blood component preparation and only 18% and 32% provide cryoprecipitate and platelet concentrate, respectively. Whole blood was most commonly requested (57.04%). All facilities tested blood for HIV, HBV and HCV, but the majority (23 [46%]) employed rapid screening tests alone and nucleic acid testing was not available in any hospitals. The manual method was the most common method of compatibility testing in 90% (45/50) and none of the THs routinely perform extended red cell typing. The average time to process routine, emergency and uncross-matched requests were a mean of 109.58±79.76 min (range 45.00-360.00), 41.62±25.23 (10.00-240.00) and 11.09±4.92 (2.00-20.00), respectively., Conclusion: Facilities for blood component preparation were not widely available. Concerned government authorities should provide facilities for blood component preparation., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection remains a public health problem and a threat to blood transfusion safety. The aim of this study was to summarise the scientific literature on the seroprevalence of HBV and occult HBV among blood donors in Africa. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Science Direct, Global Index Medicus and African Journals Online from 2012 to 2022. Dersimonian and Laird's random-effects model-based method was used for statistical analyses to estimate pooled seroprevalence at a 95% confidence interval (CI) using STATA version 14 software. Heterogeneity was assessed on the basis of Cochran's Q test and quantified by the I 2 index. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Brigg Institute's critical appraisal checklist. Among 90 articles included, 86 reported data in serological test that a pooled HBV seroprevalence of 5.53% (95% CI: 4.56-6.58; I 2  = 99.94%) and 14 provided occult hepatitis B data. A high prevalence of 9.69% (95% CI: 8.42-11.03) was observed in the West African region. Lowest prevalence was 1.22% (95% CI: 0.74-1.83) in South Africa region. Prevalence in Africa among men was: 5.18% (95% CI: 3.97-6.54) and in women: 3.50% (95% CI: 2.45-4.71) (I 2  = 99.76% and p < 0.01). While the overall pooled prevalence of occult hepatitis B was 3.18% (95% CI: 1.29-5.81). HBV seroprevalence is high in low-resource areas of Africa, and the data generated by this situation calls for constant epidemiological surveillance. Emphasis must be placed on building blood donor loyalty and integrating molecular testing into the biological qualification of blood donations., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Despite saving a vast number of lives through blood transfusions, transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) still threaten the lives of people needing blood transfusion. Hence, screening blood donors and reviewing the prevalence of TTIs amongst blood donors might show the impact of these infections among our people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted infections among blood donors in Makkah as foundation for providing harmless blood transfusion in Makkah, Saudi Arabia., Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at the Central Blood Bank in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. A total of 13,706 samples were collected and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAbs), hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAbs), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), antibodies to HIV 1 and 2 (HIV I/II Ab), antibodies to HTLV 1 and 2 (HTLV I/II Ab), Malarial antibodies, and antibodies to VDRL., Results: A total of 13,706 blood units were received and tested. Out of the total, 52% were non-Saudi donors and 47.9% were Saudi donors; 28.4% were aged 18 - 28 years, 42.8% were aged 29 - 39 years, 24.4% were aged 40 - 50 years, and 4.4% were aged 51 - 60 years. The majority was O+ blood group (42.7%), followed by A+ (26.2%), B+ (18.7%), AB+ (4.6%), O- (3.8%), A- (2.1%), B- (1.5%), and AB- (0.4%). While 42.6% of the blood units donated were from voluntary donors, 57.4% were donated by replacement donors. Sixty-one samples (0.4%) tested positive for HBsAg, 824 samples (6%) for HBcAb, 43 samples (0.3%) for HCV antibodies, 754 samples (5.5%) for HBsAb, and 44 samples (0.3%) for HIV I/II Ag/Ab combinations. Further, 44 samples (0.3%) were positive for HTLV I/II antibodies, 83 samples (0.6%) for VDRL antibodies, and only 3 samples (nearly 0%) for malaria antibodies. Forty-three samples (0.3%) were positive for NAT-HBV, 7 samples (0.1%) were positive for NAT-HCV, and 6 samples (0.1%) were positive for NAT-HIV. The analysis revealed a statistically significant and strong correlation between HBsAgs and NAT-HBV (r = 0.819, p < 0.0001). In contrast, while there was a statistically significant association between HBsAgs and HBcAbs, the correlation was weak (r = 0.191, p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was an association between HBsAbs and HBsAgs, but the Spearman correlation indicated a very weak relationship (r = 0.042, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Prevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted infections showed a steady decline in 2023, and these rates were much lower in Makkah than in other parts of the country or in neighboring countries. The importance of using NAT in the screening of blood donors was indicated in this study. These findings could contribute to improving the understanding of TTIs epidemiology and supporting health authorities in controlling blood-borne pathologies.

Background: China's significant population affected by HIV poses a substantial threat to blood transfusion safety. Despite advancements in blood testing techniques, a residual risk of HIV transmission persists. Accurately assessing HIV epidemic and the residual risk is vital for monitoring blood supply safety and evaluating the effectiveness of new screening tests., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV detection results among voluntary blood donors from 2003 to 2022. The study included data on HIV-confirmed positive donors, HIV prevalence, infection risk factors, and an incidence-window period mathematical model to estimate the residual risk of HIV., Results: Between 2003 and 2022, HIV prevalence among blood donors in Guangzhou showed a peak-shaped trend, initially increasing before declining. The overall HIV prevalence was 18.9 infections per 100,000 donations. Male donors had a significantly higher prevalence compared with female donors. Donors aged 26-35 years had the highest prevalence. Ethnic minority donors had a higher prevalence compared with Han donors. Repeat donors had a lower prevalence compared with first-time donors. Donors from other provinces had a higher prevalence compared with local donors. During the period of 2003 to 2022, the residual risk of HIV in Guangzhou steadily decreased, reaching a notable 1 in 526,316 donations in the past two years., Conclusion: The HIV epidemic among blood donors in Guangzhou remains severe, but the residual risk of HIV is decreasing. Novel detection methods have proven advantageous in reducing this residual risk. Implementing additional effective measures is imperative to ensure blood safety and curb the spread of HIV., (© 2024 AABB.)

Background and Objectives: Vasovagal reactions (VVR) are the most common adverse reactions in blood donation. This study aimed to provide and analyze the data of the regional hemovigilance system in Chongqing, China from 2020 to 2022, report the prevalence and explore the risk factors of VVR., Materials and Methods: R software (version 4.2.3) was used for all statistical analyses. Frequency and composition rates were used to describe the data of total donation, as well as data on the different types of ADR. The Chi-square test was used to analyze risk factors for VVR and inter-group comparisons of VVR stratified by gender (female/male), age (18-22; 23-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-60) and season(Spring (Mar.-May.); Summer (Jun.-Aug.); Autumn (sep.-Nov.); Winter (Dec.-Feb.))., Results: The reported incidence rate of VVR was 8.69‰ during whole blood donations and 1.02‰ during platelet-apheresis donations.The stratified analysis revealed that female donors aged 18-22 years old and 30-39 years old were reported to have lower VVR rates than male donors, oppositely, higher in females in 50-60 years old. Statistically significant differences in the incidence rate of VVR were observed between winter and summer, and between winter and spring in 18-49 years old. No seasonal variation was found in 50-60 years old., Conclusions: The reported incidence rate of VVR related to blood donation was very low and varied from those calculated by other haemovigilance systems. The higher prevalence of VVR in young, first-time donors, college students, donating in mobile vehicles, males and in spring. Among first-time donors, the prevalence of VVR was higher in males than in females; and stratified analysis revealed there were seasonal variation and gender differences within a same age group., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Society francophone de transfusion sanguine (SFTS). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation remains limited when stem cell registrants cannot be contacted, are not medically fit, are unavailable, or unwilling to proceed. In a recent report, registrants who were prior blood donors were more likely to be available for donation. In this study, we analyzed extent to which recruiting blood donors to the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cell Registry (CBS SCR) can meet targets for ethnic diversity, age, and proximity to collection facilities., Methods and Results: We analyzed 124,496 active blood donors on July 1, 2023 regarding the criteria for recruitment to the CBS SCR. A total of 40,518 (32%) were younger than 36 years of age and 49% were first-time donors (potential new recruits year over year). The ethnicity of blood donors younger than 36 years aligns more closely with the 2021 Canadian census compared to stem cell donors who were also previous blood donors, and to the current total inventory of all registrants on the CBS SCR. Of the blood donors, certain ethnic groups, including Black, Chinese, and First Nations/Indigenous, remain underrepresented. A greater proportion of active whole blood donors live within 400 km of a stem cell collection center (91%) compared to stem cell donors who donated during the past 10 years (80%)., Conclusions: Recruitment of blood donors offers an opportunity to improve the ethnic diversity of the CBS SCR and increase proximity of registrants to stem cell collection centers. The potential improved availability of registrants when matched to patients requires confirmation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AABB.)

Background: Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections is crucial for public health policy, vaccine development, and long-term disease management. However, data on reinfections in the general population remains scarce., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics among Austrian blood donors, representing healthy adults, over two years following primary infection and to evaluate the reinfection risk., Methods: 117,895 blood donations were analysed for SARS-CoV-2 total anti-N levels from June 2020 to December 2023. We examined anti-N and anti-S antibody dynamics and in vitro functionality in 230 study participants at five defined times during 24 months, assessing associations with demographics, vaccination status, and reinfection awareness., Results: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection-derived anti-N antibodies increased over time, reaching 90% by February 2023 and remaining at that level since then. According to serological screenings, we found an 88% reinfection rate, which is in contrast to participants' reports indicating a reinfection rate of 59%. Our data further reveal that about 26% of reinfections went completely unnoticed. Antibody dynamics were independent of age, sex, and ABO blood group. Interestingly, individuals with multiple reinfections reported symptoms more frequently during their primary infection. Our results further show that vaccination modestly affected reinfection risk and disease course., Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 reinfections were uncommon until the end of 2021 but became common with the advent of Omicron. This study highlights the underestimation of reinfection rates in healthy adults and underscores the need for continued surveillance, which is an important support for public health policies and intervention strategies.

Background and Objectives: Hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) pose significant risks in transfused patients, with anti-A and anti-B antibodies in donor plasma being potential contributing factors. Despite advancements in component preparation, HTRs remain a concern, particularly with apheresis-derived platelets. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high anti-A and anti-B titers among A, B, and O blood group donors and to explore factors associated with high titers., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 18 months, enrolling 978 participants from a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western India. Anti-A and anti-B titers were determined using the Conventional Tube Technique (CTT). Statistical analysis assessed correlations between high titers and demographic factors., Results: The majority of participants were young males (98.8%). Prevalence of high titers for IgM anti-A was 12.2% and IgG anti-A was 2.5%. For anti-B, IgM titers were 2.3% and IgG titers were 0.2%. The prevalence of dangerous O was found to be 14.1%, while 3.52% and 10.5% of A and B blood group donors were found to have high titers, respectively. Factors associated with high titers included female gender, vegetarian diet, age <30 years, and O blood group., Conclusion: The study sheds additional light and provides supplementary information regarding the prevalence and correlation of high anti-A and anti-B titers among O, A and B blood donors. Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing transfusion safety protocols, including selective screening of platelet units and tailored transfusion strategies based on donor characteristics., (Copyright © 2024 Société française de transfusion sanguine (SFTS). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The development of a potent immune response and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is important for herd immunity. The serological response may be due to a previous infection or vaccination. Healthy blood donors could represent and provide information on the immune status of the general population. Therefore, we estimated the global and regional prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthy blood donors., Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest from December 2019 to January 2023. After critical appraisal and quality assessment, a qualitative synthesis of the identified relevant articles was performed. The random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to assess publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was performed, and heterogeneity was quantified using I 2 statistics., Results: A total of 70 peer-reviewed articles were selected that together included 2,454,192 blood donors. The global estimated pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthy blood donors was 10.3% (95% CI: 4.6 - 18.0%, n = 70). The highest seroprevalence was observed in Asia (17.7%), followed by Africa (16.1%). The seroprevalence in studies conducted before the introduction of the vaccine was 6.1%, whereas those of studies conducted after vaccines were available was 27.6%. High seroprevalence was observed in studies that measured antibodies against the S protein of the virus (15.2%), while lower (12.5%) in those that measured antibodies against the N protein. A high seroprevalence was observed in studies that only measured IgG antibodies (16.3%), and it was 5.9% in studies that measured total antibodies., Conclusion: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthy blood donors varies, potentially indicating geographical disparities in transmission and vaccination rates. To enhance community resilience, addressing these differences through inclusive health policies and adaptable public health measures is crucial., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs) are still a growing public health problem in Africa. Studies that synthesize the available evidence on the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among African blood donors are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize qualitatively and quantitatively the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among blood donors in Africa., Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis where we included all studies that reported the seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Africa. The references were searched from electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, WHO research database-HINARI, Global Index Medicus and ClinicalTrials.gov. We further analyzed the full list of references of all included studies. The pooled seroprevalence was estimated through random effect model. The heterogeneity was assessed through Cochrane's Q test and I 2 , respectively. Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted., Results: We obtained 124 studies that met our inclusion criteria, comprising 3,573,211 blood donors tested for HBsAg. The pooled seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Africa was 6.93% (95% CI: 5.95-7.97%; I 2 = 100%; p  < 0.001). We found that the heterogeneity was explained by the study performed country and, African region. The higher prevalence was observed in Western 10.09% (95% CI: 8.75-11.50%), Central 7.81% (95% CI: 5.34-10.71%), and Eastern African region 4.87% (95% CI: 3.77-6.11%) and lower prevalence were observed in Southern 2.47% (95% CI: 0.54-5.75%) followed by Northern Africa region with 1.73% (95% CI: 0.45-3.79%). Additionally, based on the date of publication, we found that the highest prevalence was observed in studies published between 2001 and 2010 (9.41, 95% CI: 7.19-11.90) and the lowest prevalence was observed in studies published between 2011 and 2024 (6.26%; 95% CI: 5.19-7.42)., Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Africa is still very high and heterogeneous. Therefore, intensifying the screening and vaccination of the population for Hepatitis B is critical to ensure blood safety toward eliminating Hepatitis B in Africa., Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display&#95;record.php?RecordID=395616, PROSPERO CRD42023395616., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Quintas, Cuboia, Cordeiro, Sarmento and Azevedo.)

Introduction: Blood transfusion is crucial, but low-income and middle-income countries like India face a severe shortage of banked blood. This study focuses on the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states in India, where healthcare is limited, and health outcomes are poor. Our objective was to assess the blood banking infrastructure and access to blood products in these states., Methods: We used e-Rakht Khosh, an online platform for blood availability data. We collected data on blood bank locations and stocks from 18 January to 9 February 2022 and used ArcGIS to determine the population residing within 30-60-90 min of a blood bank. Availability ratios were calculated by dividing available blood products by population in these catchment areas. Descriptive analysis characterised availability, and statistical tests evaluated differences across states and over the 4-week period., Results: 806 of 824 blood banks reported data on blood stocks. Our analysis showed that 25.72% of the EAG states' population live within 30 min of a blood bank, while 61.45% and 92.46% live within 60 and 90 min, respectively., Conclusion: Blood availability rates were low in the EAG states, with only 0.6 units per 1000 people. Additionally, only 61% of the population had access to blood-equipped facilities within an hour. These rates fell below the standards of the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (15 units per 1000 population) and the WHO (10 donations per 1000 population). The study highlights the challenges in meeting demand for blood in emergencies due to inadequate blood banking infrastructure., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at low levels in serum (<200 IU/mL) with a negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test. OBI remains a major challenge to blood safety, particularly in HBV-endemic regions like Cameroon, where HBV detection relies solely on HBsAg testing. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the actual incidence and genotype characteristics of OBI in Cameroonian blood donors., Methods: Between March and June 2023, samples were collected from 288 HBsAg-negative blood donors aged 18 to 55 years and analysed for antibodies against the HBV core (anti-HBc) and surface antigens (anti-HBs). Following DNA extraction from the serum samples, qualitative nested PCR and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect HBV viral DNA and viral load respectively. For positive samples, sequencing of a fragment of the S gene was performed to identify the circulating HBV genotypes., Results: The findings revealed that 58% (n = 167/288) of blood donors tested positive for anti-HBc, 29% (n = 83/288) tested positive for anti-HBs, and 26% (n = 75/288) being positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Occult hepatitis was confirmed in 4.5% of the blood donors, all of whom belonged to either HBV genotypes A or E, which are predominant in Cameroon. The amino acid substitution sA184V associated with HBsAg detection failure in genotype E was observed in 70% of OBI sequences, and the HBsAg immune escape variants (sT131N and sS143L) implicated in OBI were also observed. The mutation rtN139K in the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain of the overlapping HBV polymerase (P) gene was present in 17% of OBI-positive sequences of genotype E, likely contributing to masking HBsAg secretion., Conclusion: The results suggest a considerable risk of transfusion-transmitted HBV in this region. Therefore, to ensure blood safety, nucleic acid testing (NAT) is recommended, as relying solely on HBsAg assays is insufficient to eliminate this risk., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Mbencho et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: China's plasmapheresis donation policy differs from that of Western countries. The association between regular plasmapheresis donation and donor health in China is still unknown., Objectives: To investigate the association of regular plasmapheresis donation with serum protein and electrolyte levels and provide scientific evidence for policy improvement., Design: Multicentre cross-sectional study., Setting and Participants: A total of 767 regular and 726 new donors from the provinces of Sichuan, Hunan, Henan and Yunnan were recruited from September 2021 to October 2022., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Our primary outcome focused on measuring the levels of serum protein and electrolyte levels, including total serum protein (TSP), IgG, albumin (Alb), haemoglobin (Hb), calcium, potassium (K + ) and magnesium (Mg 2+ ). The secondary outcome assessed their abnormal rates., Results: Male and female donors in the high donation frequency group (>16 donations per year) exhibited lower IgG levels compared with new donors (p=0.008 for male donors and p=0.007 for female donors). Additionally, female donors with high donation frequency and a high total number of lifetime donations (>100 donations) had significantly lower Hb concentrations than new donors. However, no significant changes were observed in TSP, Alb, calcium, K + and Mg 2+ levels. There were also no statistically significant differences in the rates of abnormal protein and electrolyte values below the respective threshold levels between new and regular donors., Conclusions: Plasmapheresis donation is not associated with an increased risk of abnormalities in the analysed parameters. However, the results provide preliminary evidence supporting the routine inclusion of IgG screening for donors, as plasmapheresis donation is associated with a decrease in IgG levels. Particular attention should be paid to the Hb levels of female donors, especially those who donate frequently. Testing of TSP at each donation may not be necessary., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: This study explores the effectiveness of new media in enhancing public enthusiasm for voluntary blood donation in the post-pandemic era and proposes effective publicity strategies to promote the sustainability and healthy development of blood donation activities., Methods: A questionnaire survey was widely used to collect public opinions and attitudes toward voluntary blood donation. The sample data underwent rigorous reliability and validity analysis to ensure authenticity and reliability. Statistical methods such as correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed to deeply investigate the underlying relationships between factors like new media publicity, emotional value, social recognition, convenience, information reliability, and willingness to donate blood voluntarily. Based on these analyses, a research model was constructed, and relevant hypotheses were verified through empirical methods., Results: The study found that new media publicity may be associated with increasing the willingness of the public to voluntarily donate blood. Survey participants indicated that they were more likely to consider donating blood after exposure to new media publicity. Among these factors, the emotional value and content conveyed by the publicity appeared to be particularly important. Additionally, our research revealed that social recognition, the convenience of blood donation, and the reliability of promotional information seemed to have a direct impact on the public's willingness to donate blood. At the same time, these factors may indirectly promote actual blood donation behavior by enhancing the public's emotional resonance and acceptance of blood donation., Conclusion: This study suggests that new media may play multiple positive roles in promoting voluntary blood donation. Based on these findings, we propose a series of strategic recommendations, including further optimizing publicity content, striving to enhance the public's emotional resonance, improving the reliability of promotional information, and enhancing service convenience. These suggestions aim to potentially raise public awareness and willingness to participate in voluntary blood donation, providing a scientific basis and strong support for the promotion of voluntary blood donation in the post-epidemic era., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Weng, Xu, Xie, Tian, Wang and Cheng.)

Rare donor programs are critically important for those patients with rare phenotypes who have produced the associated alloantibodies that necessitate the provision of rare blood components. We describe the American Rare Donor Program (ARDP) and its establishment, members, and policies. The specific phenotypes meeting the ARDP criteria for inclusion are described. Data on the number of rare donors registered by year, and the number of requests for rare blood components received and fulfilled over the 25 years of the program (1998-2023) are provided, along with a description of some notable cases and discussion of how the program supports patients with sickle cell disease., (© 2024 Margaret A. Keller et al., published by Sciendo.)

Objective: Research on factors that modify the intention to donate blood voluntarily in the general population in Peru is scarce, and most of it are focused on health science personnel. The aim of the present study was to estimate the factors associated with the intention to donate blood in patients attending an outpatient clinic in a hospital in northern Peru., Methods: A prospective unpaired study of cases (n=185) and controls (n=185) was designed. A case was defined as a patient who responded "if I would voluntarily donate blood in the future" to the initial filter question. The response variable was intention to donate blood and the exposure variables were sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, monthly income, religion, donation practices, and knowledge about donation. In addition, the motivations for blood donation were explored. To identify the associated factors, crude odds ratios (ORc) were calculated by means of generalized linear models, using the Poisson family, log link function and robust models; then the variables that showed a significant statistical association were adjusted by multivariate analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, and the adjusted odds ratios (ORa) were obtained., Results: In the multivariate analysis, male sex (ORa=1.37), having a high monthly income (ORa=1.26), professing the catholic religion (ORa=5.27), having a higher score in the knowledge questionnaire (ORa=1.04), having previously donated (ORa=1.64) and having a family member who had previously donated (ORa=1.72) increased the probability of intention to donate blood. On the other hand, older age (ORa=0.97) decreased said probability., Conclusions: Several factors associated with the intention to donate blood are identified, most of which were similar to previous studies. It is highlighted that a high level of knowledge, as well as previous donation experiences, increase the intention to donate blood.

Background: Currently in Australia, men are deferred from donating blood if they have had sex with another man within the past 3  months. However, a proposed gender-neutral assessment (GNA) process will ask all donors questions about sex with new or multiple recent partners, with deferral based on responses to a question about anal sex. Understanding the acceptability of such questions among existing and potential blood donors is paramount for successful implementation of GNA., Study Design and Methods: We used data from a nationally representative survey to estimate the levels of comfort with the proposed GNA questions among the Australian population and subgroups, defined by self-reported ethnicity and religion. Respondents were aged over 18 and living in Australia. Results were weighted to represent the population., Results: Most of the 5178 respondents described themselves as comfortable with answering questions about new partners (73.1%) or anal sex (64.0%) to donate blood. However, 2.2% and 4.5% indicated that questions about new sex partners and anal sex, respectively, would stop them from donating, and 4.4% and 7.7% respectively, said they were "completely uncomfortable." By religion, the least comfortable were Muslim or Eastern Orthodox respondents, and by country of birth, the least comfortable were those born in the Middle East, followed by those born in Southern Europe and Asia., Discussion: GNA appears to be broadly acceptable in the Australian context, but our findings suggest that key GNA questions are less acceptable in some population subgroups, indicating a need for targeted campaigns that consider cultural sensitivities., (© 2024 The Author(s). Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AABB.)

Objective: Here, we sought to report ABO and D antigen distribution in blood donors from Yogyakarta, Java Island, Indonesia. Phenotype data (ABO/D) from donors who donated blood between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, at the Yogyakarta Blood Donor Unit were extracted from the blood donor registry, and phenotype frequency was calculated subsequently., Results: In the 245,307 blood donors collected over six years, ABO phenotype frequency: O (frequency: 38.5%) > B (29.4%) > A (24.1%) > AB (8.0%). The D-positive phenotype was far more common (99.5%) than the D-negative phenotype (0.5%). The phenotypic pattern globally is similar to previous reports in Southeast Asia. The D antigen distribution is similar to world distribution as the most common blood group. For the first time in Indonesia, this distribution of ABO and D phenotype is reported in a large-scale study. This work is a pioneer in the coordinated optimization of transfusion guidelines at the national level., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The safety of blood donation requires screening for transfusion-transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in blood donors of Mogadishu Tertiary Care Hospital, Somalia from 2020 to 2022., Methods: The records of 109,385 blood donors who attended our blood center in Mogadishu-Somalia between 2020 and 2022 were examined retrospectively. Serum samples of donors; HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilisscreening tests were studied using the microparticleEnzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)(Vitros, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, U.S) method.The distribution of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilis positivity rates of 109,385 blood donors according to years, gender and age were examined. Kolmogorov Smirnov, Skewness, Kurtosis tests and histogram were used for normality analysis. Chi-squared test (χ2) and Fisher Exact test were used to analyze categorical data. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage). Analysis of continuous data was performed with the Mann Whitney U test. P < 0.05 value was considered statistically significant., Results: HBsAg positivity was found in 0.6% of the donors, anti-HCV positivity in 0.01%, anti-HIV positivity in 0.03% and syphilispositivity in 0.3%. The results showed that among the blood donors, the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis Cwas notably low., Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among blood donors in Somalia was found to be quite low. Even if our found seroprevalence rates are low, to guarantee the safety of blood for recipients, strict selection of blood donors and thorough screening of donors' blood using accepted procedures are strongly advised., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Blood transfusion services play a very key role in modern health care service delivery. About 118.5 million blood donations were collected globally in 2022. However, about 1.6 million units of blood are destroyed annually due to transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). There is a very high risk of TTIs through donated blood to recipients if safe transfusion practices are not observed. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Arua regional blood bank, Uganda., Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional design that involved a review of a random sample of 1370 blood donors registered between January 1st, 2018 and December 31st, 2019 at Arua regional blood bank, Uganda. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the blood donors. The binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with TTIs., Results: The majority of the blood donors were male (80.1%), and the median donor age was 23 years (IQR = 8 years). The overall prevalence of TTIs was found to be 13.8% (95%CI: 12.0-15.6%), with specific prevalences of 1.9% for HIV, 4.1% for HBV, 6.6% for HCV and 2.8% for treponema pallidum. Male sex (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.32-3.36, p-value = 0.002) and lapsed donor type compared to new donor type (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.13-0.87, p-value = 0.025) were found to be associated with TTIs., Conclusion: The prevalence of TTIs among blood donors of West Nile region, Uganda was found to be significantly high, which implies a high burden of TTIs in the general population. Hence, there is need to implement a more stringent donor screening process to ensure selection of risk-free donors, with extra emphasis on male and new blood donors. Additionally, sensitization of blood donors on risky behaviors and self-deferral will reduce the risk of donating infected blood to the recipients., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Surveillance of HIV-1 pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) is essential for ensuring the success of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Beside population-based surveys, sentinel surveillance of PDR and circulating HIV-1 clades in specific populations such as blood donors could efficiently inform decision-making on ART program. We therefore sought to ascertain HIV-1 residual infection, the threshold of PDR and viral diversity among recently-diagnosed blood donors in Gabon., Methods: A sentinel surveillance was conducted among 381 consenting blood donors at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC) in Gabon from August 3,2020 to August, 31, 2021. In order to determine the residual risk of HIV transmission, viral load and HIV-1 Sanger-sequencing were performed at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Center (CIRCB)-Cameroon on HIV samples previously tested seronegative with ELISA in Gabon. Phylogeny was performed using MEGA X, PDR threshold>10% was considered high and data were analysed using p≤0.05 for statistical significance., Results: Five HIV-negative blood donors had a detectable viral load indicating a high residual risk of HIV transmission. Among the samples successfully sequenced, four participants had major drug resistance mutations (DRMs), giving a threshold of PDR of 25% (4/16). By drug class, major DRMs targeting NNRTI (K103N, E138G), NRTIs (L210W) and PI/r (M46L). The most representative viral clades were CRF02&#95;AG and subtype A1. The genetic diversity of HIV-1 had no significant effect on the residual risk in blood transfusion (CRF02&#95;AG, P = 0.3 and Recombinants, P = 0.5)., Conclusion: This sentinel surveillance indicates a high residual risk of HIV-1 transfusion in Gabon, thereby underscoring the need for optimal screening strategy for blood safety. Moreover, HIV-1 transmission goes with high-risk of PDR, suggesting suboptimal efficacy of ART. Nonetheless, the genetic diversity has limited (if any effect) on the residual risk of infection and PDR in blood donors., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there are no interests competitors., (Copyright: © 2024 Mangala et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Routine screening for viral infections at blood donation is important to avoid transfusion-transmitted infections. It also offers an opportunity to detect an asymptomatic infection., Objective: To study changes in serology positivity for viral infections (B and C hepatitis, HTLV-1/2, and HIV) at blood donation in a blood bank from Southern Brazil, comparing two periods of 5 years: the period from 2013 to 2017 with the period from 2018 to 2022. In addition, data on the donor fidelity rate during the studied period were sought., Methods: Retrospective study using data from 2013 to 2022 from a single blood center electronic database from Curitiba, Southern Brazil., Results: A significant drop in positive serology for all studied viruses was observed: highest in HIV (OR=0.39; 95% CI=0.27-0.57) and lowest in total anti HBc (0.56; 95 CI=0.50-0.63). Anti HBc serology became more commonly seen in women in the period of 2018-2022 when compared to men. No changes in the distribution of positive serology according to donors' ages were observed. Loyalty rates had a median of 70%, with the lowest being 60% in 2013, while the highest was 73% in 2018 and 2022., Conclusion: A significant reduction in discarded blood bags due to viral serology was observed when the period of 2013-2017 was compared to 2018-2022 on this blood bank; the highest reduction was observed in HIV serology and the lowest in HBc serology, which became more common in women in the second period. High rates of donor fidelity were observed during the period studied.

In healthy adults, parvovirus B19 (PVB19) typically causes mild symptoms but can lead to severe complications in immunosuppressed individuals or those with high red blood cell turnover. Infection can occur through respiratory transmission or via transfusion, necessitating the testing of blood donations in Germany. Between 2015 and April 2024, we screened 2 105 755 blood donations for PVB19 using polymerase chain reaction. Incidence rates were calculated for three periods: pre-COVID-19 (2015-2020), during the pandemic (2020-2023), and post-COVID-19 (2023-2024). A total of 242 PVB19-positive donations were identified. In the first period, there were 101 positives out of 1 228 361 donations (incidence: 0.83/10 000). In the second period, four positives were found out of 621 222 donations (incidence: 0.06/10 000). In the third period, 137 positives were detected out of 235 088 donations (incidence: 5.35/10 000) with a striking increase of incidence between December 2023 and March 2024 (4.3-21.1/10 000 donations). Most people develop lifelong immunity after infection in childhood but the COVID-19 pandemic interventions, like masks and distancing, correlate with a decline in PVB19 infections in donors indicating an impact of hygiene measures on PVB19 infection rates., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Medical Virology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Objectives: In Brazil, urban arboviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), constitute a major public health problem, and due to their endemicity and asymptomatic cases, they pose a potential threat to blood donations. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, has been impacted by extensive DENV epidemics over the last 30 years and, after 2015, by CHIKV and ZIKV., Materials and Methods: Urban arboviruses DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV were investigated in blood donations (n = 778) at the State Institute of Hematology, HEMORIO (RJ) from 2019 to 2022 by serological and molecular methods., Results: An overall arbovirus exposure was observed in 26.1% of the blood donations. Anti-DENV IgM was detected in 4.0% of samples and two donations were DENV NS1 positive. Positive anti-CHIKV IgM was observed in 4.7% of the donations. Co-detection of anti-CHIKV IgM and anti-DENV IgM was observed in 1.0% of donors, and CHIKV prevalence was 21.3%. All blood donations tested were negative for the DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV RNA., Conclusion: IgM seroprevalence to the arboviruses analyzed here is an indicator of recent infection in asymptomatic donors, showing that the population of blood donors can be a vehicle for new infections, especially during epidemic periods., (© 2024 International Society of Blood Transfusion.)

Background: In December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a letter to clinical laboratory staff and healthcare providers detailing a risk of false Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) when using the Bio-Rad Laboratories BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total & RPR kit in people who had received COVID-19 vaccination; Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assays did not appear to be impacted by this issue. We evaluated reactivity rates of syphilis screening with negative confirmatory testing at our institution by year and seasonality., Methods: We performed a retrospective study of routine syphilis testing of whole blood (WB) collections at an academic hospital-based donor center in the eastern United States. All WB donations from 2011 to 2023 which demonstrated reactive syphilis screening (Beckman Coulter PK TP Microhemagglutination) with negative confirmatory testing (CAPTIA Syphilis (T. pallidum)-G) were evaluated. Reactivity rates by year and season of donation were compared using unpaired t-tests., Results: A total of 109 WB donations from 86 unique donors who donated from 2011 to 2023 screened reactive for syphilis with negative confirmatory testing. The unconfirmed syphilis reactivity rate increased from 2018 to 2023 (mean: 0.360%) compared to 2011-2017 (mean: 0.071%, p < .05). An autumnal peak in unconfirmed reactives was observed., Conclusion: The unconfirmed syphilis reactivity rate among WB donors at our institution increased markedly since 2017 compared to the 7 years prior and doubled from 2020 to 2021. No testing assay changes explain these results. The autumnal peak in unconfirmed reactives suggests a possible environmental trigger such as viral infection or vaccination., (Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AABB.)

Purpose: Limited information is known about the burden of Long COVID by occupation and industry. This study compares the occurrence of self-reported new long-term symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer among blood donors with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection by occupation and industry., Methods: The American Red Cross invited blood donors 18 years and older who donated during May 4-December 31, 2021 to participate in online surveys. New long-term symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer were assessed by self-reported occurrence of any of 35 symptoms since March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined by serological testing and self-report. We describe the prevalence of new long-term symptoms by SARS-CoV-2 infection status. We calculate the difference in reported new long-term symptoms by SARS-CoV-2 infection status within occupation and industry categories., Results: Data were collected from 27,907 employed adults - 9763 were previously infected and 18,234 were never infected with SARS-CoV-2. New long-term symptoms were more prevalent among those previously infected compared to the never-infected respondents (45% vs 24%, p < 0.05). Among all respondents, new long-term symptoms by occupation ranged from 26% (installation, maintenance, and repair) to 41% (healthcare support) and by industry ranged from 26% (mining) to 55% (accommodation and food services). New long-term neurological and other symptoms were commonly reported by those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2., Discussion: New long-term symptoms are more prevalent among certain occupation and industry groups, which likely reflects differential exposure to SARS-CoV-2. These findings highlight potential need for workplace accommodations in a variety of occupational settings to address new long-term symptoms., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Background: Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 70% (50-80%) of infections become chronic and exhibit anti-HCV and HCV nucleic acid (NAT) positivity. Direct acting oral pan genotypic antiviral treatment became available in 2014 and was free for most Canadians in 2018. Clinical screening for HCV infection is risk-based. About 1% of Canadians have been infected with HCV, with 0.5% chronically infected (about 25% unaware) disproportionately impacting marginalized groups. Blood donors are in good health, are deferred for risks such as injection drug use and can provide insight into the low-risk undiagnosed population. Here we describe HCV epidemiology in first-time blood donors over 28 years of monitoring., Methods: All first-time blood donors in all Canadian provinces except Quebec (1993 to 2021) were analyzed. All blood donations were tested for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) and since late 1999 also HCV NAT. A case-control study was also included. All HCV positive donors (cases) since 2005 and HCV negative donors (1:4 ratio controls) matched for age, sex and location were invited to complete a risk factor interview. Separate logistic regression models for anti-HCV positivity and chronic HCV assessed the association between age cohort, sex, region and neighbourhood material deprivation and ethnocultural concentration., Case: control data were analysed by logistic regression., Results: There were 2,334,238 donors from 1993 to 2021 included. Prevalence for anti-HCV was 0.33% (0.30,0.37) in 1993 and 0.07% (0.05,0.09) in 2021 (p < 0.0001). In 2021 0.03% (0.01,0.04) had chronic HCV. Predictors for both anti-HCV positivity and chronic HCV were similar, for chronic HCV were male sex (OR 1.8, 1.6,2.1), birth between 1945 and 1975 (OR 7.1, 5.9,8.5), living in the western provinces (OR 1.4, 1.2,1.7) and living in material deprived (OR 2.7, 2.1,3.5) and more ethnocultural concentrated neighbourhoods (OR 1.8, 1.3,2.5). There were 318 (35.4%) of chronic HCV positive and 1272 (39.6%) of controls who participated in case control interviews. The strongest risks for acquisition were injection drug use (OR 96.9, 22.3,420.3) and birth in a high prevalence country (OR 24.5, 11.2,53.6)., Conclusions: Blood donors have 16 times lower HCV prevalence then the general population. Donors largely mirror population trends and highlight the ongoing prevalence of untreated infections in groups without obvious risks for acquisition missed by risk-based patient screening., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The World Health Organization recommends that all blood donations be screened for transfusion transmissible infections; these data are currently not incorporated into national disease surveillance efforts. We set out to use routinely collected data from blood donors in Blantyre district, Malawi to explore HIV and syphilis prevalence and identify sero-conversions among repeat donors. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of blood donation data collected by the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service from 2015 to 2021. All blood donations were routinely screened for HIV and syphilis. We characterized donor demographics as well as screening outcomes, including identifying sero-conversions among repeat donors who previously tested negative on their last donation. A total of 23,280 donations from 5,051 donors were recorded, with a median frequency of donations of 3 (IQR:2-6). Most donors were male (4,294; 85%) and students (3,262; 64.6%). Prevalence of HIV at first donation was 1.0% (52/5,051) and prevalence of syphilis was 1.6% (80/5,051); 52 HIV sero-conversions and 126 syphilis sero-conversions were identified, indicating an incidence rate per 1,000 person-years of 5.9 (95% CI: 4.7, 7.4) and 13.3 (95% CI:11.4, 15.4) respectively. Students had a lower prevalence of HIV and syphilis but higher risk of syphilis seroconversion. While blood donors are generally considered a low-risk population for HIV and syphilis, we were able to identify relatively high rates of undiagnosed HIV and syphilis infections among donors. Routinely collected data from national blood donation services may be used to better understand local HIV and syphilis epidemiology, with the potential to enhance disease surveillance systems. These findings may be used to identify priority prevention areas and populations in Blantyre district that can inform targeted interventions for improved disease prevention, testing and treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Singogo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major concern regarding blood safety in countries with a high HBV prevalence, such as China. We aimed to understand the prevalence of HBV infection among blood donors in Chongqing and provide an important basis for developing appropriate blood screening strategies., Methods: Dual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were conducted in parallel with nucleic acid testing (NAT) of donors. All HBsAg-reactive and/or HBV DNA-positive blood samples were tested for HBsAg and hepatitis B DNA levels., Results: A total of 117,927 blood donor samples were collected from the Chongqing Blood Center between April 2020 and November 2020. In total, 473 HBV-ineligible samples were retained for HBsAg and DNA confirmation. A total of 272 samples were confirmed to be HBsAg+, including 2 HBV DNA - and 270 HBV DNA + samples. A total of 201 donations were HBsAg-, including 72 HBV DNA - samples. The rate of HBV infection was 65.33% (309/473) in men, which was significantly higher than that in women (p < 0.001). The HBV failure rate was higher among the first-time donors (p < 0.05). Of the 182 NAT R/HBsAg N/N samples (Nucleic acid test reactivity/2 anti-HBsAg tests negative), 37.91% (69/182) were false positives. The proportion of hepatitis B infections in the 18 NAT R/HBsAg N/R (Nucleic acid test reactivity/1 anti-HBsAg tests negative) samples was 94.44% (17/18), of which 50% (9/18) were occult HBV infection. A total of 95.83% (69/72) of the false positives were from the NAT R/HBsAg N/N group, and 58.33% (42/72) were first-time donors., Conclusion: Our data showed a strikingly high HBV infection rate among blood donors in Chongqing. Double ELISA and single NAT can effectively prevent HBV leakage and improve blood safety. First-time donors have a high rate of HBV transplant failure; therefore, donors should be retained and recruited from low-risk groups., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) remain a major public health problem in countries with limited resources, particularly in Gabon. Complete information on the prevalence in Gabon of the main TTIs among blood donors is still lacking in the national context. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon., Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It was the result of data from several comprehensive studies published between 2014 and 2022, the purpose of which focused on the prevalence and factors associated with TTIs among blood donors in Gabon. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. The overall prevalence of TTIs among blood donors was determined using the random effects model. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger's statistics., Results: A total of 175,140 blood donors from the nine eligible studies were admitted to this study. The combined prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis obtained in the random effects model was 3.0%, 6.0%, 4.0% and 3.0%, respectively. Moreover, being a male blood donor and aged between 25 and 44 years was significantly associated with HBV infection and being a female blood donor and aged 35 years and over was significantly associated with HIV infection. Family or replacement blood donors had a high infection burden for all four TTIs of study., Conclusion: The overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections remains high in the country's blood banks. Improving current prevention (selection criteria) and screening strategies may be necessary in a global approach., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Mangala et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Both pre-donation and post-donation deferrals pose challenges to blood safety and availability. This study delved into the deferral rates before donations and their underlying reasons, as, transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) leading to post-donation deferrals among potential blood donors at the Kwale Satellite Blood Transfusion Centre (KSBTC) in Kenya., Methods: We performed a retrospective electronic record review of pre- and post-donation deferrals among blood donors at KSBTC, 2018-2022. The pre-donations deferral rate and reasons for deferral were analyzed. Accepted donations were analyzed to determine the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and syphilis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and both crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Variables with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: A review was conducted on 12,633 blood donation records. Among these, individuals 2,729/12,633 (21.60%) were deferred from donating with the primary reason being low hemoglobin levels, constituting 51.86% of deferrals. Around 773/9,904 (7.80%) of blood units, were discarded due to at least one TTI. Among these, HBV accounted for 4.73%, HIV for 2.01%, HCV for 1.21%, and Syphilis for 0.59% of cases. The adjusted odds ratio for male donors were, (aOR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.01-1.57), donors with none or primary education level (aOR = 1.4 95% CI 1.11-1.68), first-timer donors (aOR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.44), and static strategy for blood collection (aOR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.12-1.63) were independently potentially associated with testing positive for at least one TTI., Conclusion: The study indicates that TTIs continue to pose a risk to the safety of Kenya's bloodstock, with a notable prevalence of HBV infections. Male donors, individuals with limited education, first-time donors, and utilizing a fixed strategy for blood collection were identified as potential risk factors independently associated with TTIs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Leishmaniasis poses significant public health challenges in endemic regions. Understanding the prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection and identifying risk factors among blood donors is crucial. This study addressed a knowledge gap by evaluating the prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection and pinpointing associated risk factors among blood donors in an endemic area in Thailand and aimed to enhance blood donation safety protocols and reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted Leishmania infection. A cross-sectional study and a longitudinal follow-up were conducted among 500 blood donors in Trang Province, southern Thailand. A serological test was performed using the direct agglutination test (DAT), and DNA detection was performed using nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) to screen for Leishmania infection. Potential risk factors associated with the infection were also assessed. The study identified a 19.0% prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection among blood donors, with nPCR proving more effective in detecting infections (13.0%) than DAT (6.4%). Notably, Leishmania martiniquensis was the predominant species identified, highlighting the local epidemiological profile of Leishmania infection. Furthermore, using multivariate analysis, living in stilt houses was independently associated with Leishmania infection (adjusted odds ratio = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.04-3.28; P = 0.035). A high prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection among blood donors underscores the need for integrating comprehensive Leishmania screening protocols into blood donation processes, particularly in endemic regions. It advocates for using molecular diagnostics to enhance detection accuracy. Furthermore, living in stilt houses as a risk factor emphasizes the importance of environmental management in leishmaniasis control efforts.

Background: There is no replacement for blood, and patients requiring transfusion depend on human donors, most of whom are family donors. Family donors may deny engagement in high-risk activities, which threaten the safety of donated blood. This study determined frequency of self-reported high-risk behaviors among replacement donors., Methods: This retrospective study recruited 1317 donor records from 2017-2020, at Mankranso Hospital, Ghana. Data from archived donor questionnaires were extracted and analyzed with SPSS and GraphPad. Frequencies, associations, and quartiles were presented., Results: The donors were predominantly males (84.4%), 17-26 years old (43.7%), informal workers (71.8%), rural inhabitants (56.5%), first-time (65.0%), and screened in the rainy season (56.3%). Donation frequency was significantly associated with age, sex, occupation, and residence. Repeat donors were significantly older (p≤0.001). More males than females were deferred (p = 0.008), drug addicts (p = 0.001), had body modifications (p = 0.025), multiple sexual partners (p = 0.045), and STIs (p≤0.001), whereas, more females were recently treated (p = 0.044). Weight loss (p = 0.005) and pregnancy (p = 0.026) were frequent among 17-26-year group, whereas, tuberculosis was frequent among 37-60-year group (p = 0.009). More first-time donors were unwell (p = 0.005), deferred (p≤0.001), pregnant (p = 0.002), drug addicts, had impending rigorous activity (p = 0.037), body modifications (p = 0.001), multiple sexual partners (p = 0.030), and STIs (p = 0.008). STIs were frequent in the dry season (p = 0.010). First-time donors had reduced hemoglobin (p = 0.0032), weight (p = 0.0003), and diastolic pressure (p = 0.0241)., Conclusion: Donation frequency was associated with age, sex, occupation, and residence, with first-time donors younger than repeat donors. Deferral from donation, drug addiction, body modification, multiple sexual partners, and STIs were frequent among males, whereas, more females received treatment. Tuberculosis was frequently reported among older adults, whereas, weight loss and pregnancy were frequent among younger individuals. More first-time donors reported being unwell, deferred, drug addiction, body modifications, multiple sexual partners, STIs, and pregnant. Hemoglobin, weight, and diastolic BP were reduced among first-time donors., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Osei-Boakye et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

We estimated monthly cross-sectional seroprevalence rates of anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) and anti-spike (anti-S) antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in two U.S. nationwide studies. The nationwide blood donor seroprevalence (NBDS) study included specimens from blood donors, while the nationwide commercial laboratory seroprevalence (NCLS) study included residual serum specimens tested in commercial laboratories for reasons unrelated to the assessment of coronavirus disease 2019 infection. In September-December 2021, specimens collected from both nationwide studies were tested for anti-N antibodies. In September-October 2021, specimens from both studies within a five-state area were tested for anti-S antibodies. We used raking methods to adjust all seroprevalence estimates by the population distribution of key demographics in included states. Seroprevalence estimates of each antibody type were compared across the two studies for specimens drawn in the same U.S. states during the same time period. Our analysis revealed that over a 4-month period, national NCLS monthly anti-N estimates were 0.5-1.9 percentage points higher than NBDS estimates. In contrast, across five states during a 2-month period, NBDS anti-S estimates were 7.6 and 8.2 percentage points higher than NCLS estimates. The observed differences in seroprevalence estimates between the NBDS and NCLS studies may be attributed to variations in the characteristics of the study sample populations, particularly with respect to health status, health behaviors, and vaccination status. These differences should be considered in the interpretation of seroprevalence study results based on blood donors or commercial lab residual specimens., Importance: This study was the first systematic comparison between two nationwide severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) studies which estimated seroprevalence, or the proportion of the population with antibodies to the virus, using differing convenience sample populations. One study tested blood donor specimens; the other study tested specimens left over from clinical blood tests. The seroprevalence of anti-nucleocapsid and anti-spike antibodies was compared in the same states during the same months with statistical adjustments based on state demographics. Similar anti-nucleocapsid antibody seroprevalence estimates produced by two independent studies using differing convenience samples build confidence in the generalizability of their anti-nucleocapsid findings. Due to high blood donor vaccine rates, blood donor SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody estimates might overestimate general population seroprevalence, an important consideration for interpreting national seroprevalence study results. Furthermore, because laboratory residuals and blood donations are two common sources of specimens for seroprevalence studies, study findings may be informative for other respiratory virus seroepidemiology studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Blood donation was among the most severely disrupted service during the COVID-19 pandemic, and different measures were taken nationally and internationally to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on donation services., Aim: To compare blood donation before, during and after the pandemic and the effectiveness of efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on donation services., Methods: This retrospective, observational, population-based study assessed the number and locations of blood donations, number of blood and platelet units issued to hospitals, and characteristics of 82 619 blood donors at the reference blood donation facility in United Arab Emirates in 2019 and 2020. Service recovery was assessed by comparing blood donation in 2021 and 2022 with 2019. The data were analysed using SPSS version 26 and the extent of the effect of COVID-19 on the measured parameters was tested using Pearson's χ2 test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: COVID-19 significantly affected the number of donors, location of blood donations, and quantities of blood and platelets issued to hospitals. Median annual number of donors was 19 121 males and 1393 females. In 2020, male donors increased by 1.6%, while female donors decreased by 22.3%. The number of donors decrease to 18 977 in 2020 from 19 035 in 2019 and increased to 22 542 in 2021 and 22 065 in 2022. Whole blood collections decreased by 0.3% in 2020 and increased by 18.0% in 2021 and 13.6% in 2022., Conclusion: Proactive measures, good infrastructure, flexibility, emergency planning, community awareness, good communication between stakeholders, and close coordination among national authorities are needed to effectively manage blood donation centres during crisis., (Copyright © Authors 2024; Licensee: World Health Organization. EMHJ is an open access journal. This paper is available under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo).)

Background & objectives India has been classified as an intermediate Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) endemic country, and the transmission is believed to mostly occur horizontally. However, community-based data on HBV prevalence among blood donors in India are limited. The burden of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is unknown in the asymptomatic blood donor population. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of the HBV among the blood donor population in India. Methods We searched different databases for research articles on the prevalence of HBV in the blood donor population from India. Following the PRISMA guidelines, forty articles published between January 2013 and October 20, 2023, were selected for meta-analysis after removing duplicates and conducting a two-level screening process. Review Manager Version 5.3 (Rev Man 5.4) was used for statistical meta-analysis. The study has been registered with PROSPERO (number CRD42023487616). Results Forty articles were selected out of the 527 published manuscripts for meta-analysis, and a total of 22,22,736 blood donations were studied. Of these, 24,151 individuals (1.11%) were identified either as chronically infected with HBV or living with HBV infection. A pooled prevalence of approximately 1.11 per cent with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of (0.011; 0.0112) (common effect model) or 95% CI of (0.0079; 0.0116) (random effects model) was estimated. The included studies exhibited a high level of heterogeneity, probably due to different diagnostic approaches followed in different studies. Interpretation & conclusions The burden of hepatitis is profound, impacting public health, economies, and societies in India. The outcome of this study would help address such a burden and develop comprehensive strategies focused on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and necessary collaboration to achieve significant reductions in hepatitis-related morbidity and mortality.

Background: In recent years, the field of transfusion medicine for dogs has advanced significantly, becoming a crucial aspect of veterinary clinical practice. Nowadays, blood still remains a fundamental biological source and the welfare and health status of eligible species-specific blood donors are essential for veterinary transfusion medicine., Aim: This study focused on evaluating two shelters in Central Italy (Marche region), located in Tolentino (TS) and in Camerino (CS), in order to assess the potential of the shelter dogs as canine blood donors., Methods: We evaluated a total of 45 dogs from these shelters based on physical (age and size), clinical, behavioural, and blood analysis criteria described in the Italian Ministerial Guideline for Veterinary Transfusion Medicine (2016)., Results: At the TS shelter, out of 206 resident dogs, 125 met the donation criteria (60.68%), with 28 (13.59%) selected for the study due to the impossibility to collect the samplings or other exclusion causes. In the CS shelter, of the 149 dogs, 17 (11.41%) were identified as potential blood donors and included in the study. Among these, seven dogs (25%) from TS and five dogs (29.41%) from CS were found to have DEA1 negative blood group. High percentages (TS = 25.24%, CS = 40.27%) of dogs were excluded for seniority and 29.53% in CS for behavioural issues. Notable findings included reduced erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume [mean TS = 63.93 fl; CS = 64.00 fl] and Reticulocyte Hemoglobin [mean TS = 22.39 pg; CS = 21.38 pg]. Additionally, in both shelters' dogs showed a modest increase in eosinophils levels [mean TS = 1.59 K/μl; CS = 1.02 K/μl]., Conclusion: Shelter dogs can fulfill the blood donation requirements set by the Italian Ministerial Guideline on Veterinary Transfusion Medicine. They are generally in good health and present a low risk of transmitting parasitic diseases; however, many are ineligible for donation due to behavioural pathologies or temperament issues and seniority., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Objectives: Estimate HTLV-1/2 (human T-cell lymphotropic viruses) prevalence in Canadian blood donors and the association of demographic variables with infection and their corresponding risk factors., Methods: First-time blood donors in all Canadian provinces (except Quebec) from 1990 to 2022 were included. Blood samples were tested for HTLV-1/2 by enzyme-linked immunoassay, confirmed by Western blot. Multivariable logistic regression with year, age group, sex, region, neighbourhood material deprivation, and ethnocultural composition indices predicted HTLV-1/2. Since 2005, all HTLV-1/2-positive donors (cases) were invited to participate in a risk factor interview, and 4 non-positive donors (controls per case) were matched for age, sex, and region. Case-control predictors of HTLV-1/2 were analyzed using logistic regression., Results: There were 3,085,554 first-time donors from 1990 to 2022. HTLV-1/2 prevalence remained low (12 per 100,000 in 2022, 95% CI 6.4-23.5). The odds ratios predicting HTLV-1/2 were higher in females (2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.6), older age groups (50 + ; 6.3, 95% CI 4.3-9.2), British Columbia and Ontario, those materially deprived (1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9), and those in ethnocultural neighbourhoods (7.5, 95% CI 3.2-17.3). Most HTLV-1/2 in Ontario was HTLV-1, whereas in British Columbia half were HTLV-2. Forty-three of 149 (28.8%) cases and 172 of 413 (41.6%) controls completed an interview. The strongest predictor of HTLV-1/2 in case-control analysis was birth in a high-prevalence country (OR 39.8, 95% CI 7.8-204.3) but about 50% of HTLV-1 and 90% of HTLV-2 were Canadian-born., Conclusion: HTLV-1/2 prevalence is low in blood donors. High-prevalence country of birth accounts for about half of HTLV-1; HTLV-2 positives are usually Canadian-born. HTLV-1/2 transmission likely occurs overseas and within Canada., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive license to The Canadian Public Health Association.)

Background: In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance for blood donor eligibility that recommended the elimination of 3-month deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) and the related deferral for women who have sex with MSM. In its place, FDA introduced an individual risk assessment policy of asking all presenting blood donors, regardless of sex or gender, if they have had a new partner or more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months and deferring those who also report anal sex (penile-anal intercourse) during this period. We modeled the possible impact of this policy on the US blood donor base., Study Design and Methods: We developed a computational model to estimate the percentage of blood donors who would be deferred under a policy of individual HIV risk assessment. The model incorporated demographic information about donors and national survey data on HIV risk behaviors and included age and sex distributions and dependencies., Results: Our model estimates that approximately 1.2% of US blood donors would be deferred under the individual HIV risk assessment paradigm., Discussion: The model predicts a relatively minor effect of replacing the time-based deferral for MSM with individual risk-based deferral for sexual behavior. As US blood centers implement this new policy, the effect may be mitigated by donor gains, which warrant further study. The new policy is unlikely to adversely affect the availability of blood and blood components., (© 2024 AABB. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Background: Studies preceding the COVID-19 pandemic found that slower time-to-return was associated with first-time, deferred, and mobile drive blood donors. How donor return dynamics changed during the COVID-19 pandemic is not well understood., Methods: We analyzed visits by whole blood donors from 2017 to 2022 in South Africa (SA) and the United States (US) stratified by mobile and fixed environment, first-time and repeat donor status, and pre-COVID19 (before March 2020) and intra-COVID19. We used Kaplan-Meier curves to characterize time-to-return, cumulative incidence functions to analyze switching between donation environments, and Cox proportional hazards models to analyze factors influencing time-to-return., Results: Overall time-to-return was shorter in SA. Pre-COVID19, the proportion of donors returning within a year of becoming eligible was lower for deferred donors in both countries regardless of donation environment and deferral type. Intra-COVID19, the gap between deferred and non-deferred donors widened in the US but narrowed in SA, where efforts to schedule return visits from deferred donors were intensified, particularly for non-hemoglobin-related deferrals. Intra-COVID19, the proportion of donors returning within a year in SA was higher for deferred first-time donors (>81%) than for successful first-time donors (80% at fixed sites; 69% at mobile drives)., Conclusions: The pandemic complicated efforts to recruit new donors and schedule returning visits after completed donations. Concerted efforts to improve time-to-return for deferred donors helped mitigate donation loss in SA during the public health emergency., (© 2024 The Author(s). Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AABB.)

Introduction: To prevent blood donors from developing iron deficiency (ferritin <15 μg/L) and subsequent anemia (hemoglobin <120 g/L), blood services rely on information about known risk factors, including the donor's sex and age. For example, while Finnish women are able to donate whole blood with a minimum donation interval of 91 days, women in the 18 to 25-year-old age group are recommended to donate no more than once per year. Menstrual blood loss is not accounted for in blood donation interval recommendations, despite being a known risk factor of iron deficiency. We aim to investigate to what extent menstrual bleeding is associated with ferritin and hemoglobin levels in female blood donors, and quantify the association of other menstruation-related variables not currently accounted for by blood services (i.e., use of hormonal contraception, heavy menstrual bleeding) with iron deficiency or anemia., Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 473 premenopausal and 491 postmenopausal Dutch whole blood donors. Exclusion criteria were current pregnancy, BMI ≥50, ferritin ≥200, pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC) ≥400, and age <18 or ≥70 years. Menstrual blood loss was quantified using a PBAC, a semiquantitative method to evaluate the number of used menstrual products and the degree of staining. We identified predictors of log(ferritin)/hemoglobin and iron deficiency/anemia using Bayesian linear and logistic regression models and quantified the average percentage of variance in log(ferritin) and hemoglobin explained by the covariates., Results: Menstrual blood loss accounted for most of the explained variance in hemoglobin (8%) and second only to the number of days since last donation for ferritin (8%). Heavy menstrual bleeding (PBAC ≥150, OR = 3.56 [1.45-8.85], prevalence 13%) was associated with anemia, and use of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device was negatively associated with iron deficiency (OR = 0.06 [0.01-0.44]). After statistical control for menstrual blood loss, age was not associated with iron status., Conclusions: Menstrual blood loss and blood donation were the most important determinants of iron status in premenopausal women. Thus, results suggest that accounting for menstrual blood loss in donation interval guidelines may benefit blood donors., (© 2024 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG).)

Objective: To describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation measures in workplaces of employed US blood donors by industry and work arrangement., Methods: During May-December 2021, blood donors responded to a survey; we describe the distribution of reported workplace mitigation measures by industry and work arrangement, organized using the hierarchy of controls., Results: Of 53,433 respondents representing 21 industries, ventilation upgrades were reported by 4%-38% of respondents (overall: 20%); telework access ranged from 14%-80% (53% overall). Requiring masks (overall: 84%; range: 40%-94%), physical distancing (77%; 51%-86%), paid leave for illness (70%; 38%-87%), and encouraging vaccination (61%; 33%-80%) were common. Independent workers reported fewer mitigation measures than those in traditional employment settings., Conclusions: Mitigation measures varied by industry and work arrangement. Some mitigation measures may be challenging to implement or irrelevant in certain industries, supporting the idea that mitigation is not a one-size-fits-all strategy., Policy Implications: Tailored strategies to mitigate workplace risks of disease transmission are vital. Strategies should rely on effective methods for identifying workplace controls (e.g., through the hierarchy of controls) and account for industry-specific characteristics and workplace environments., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

BackgroundSyphilis in blood donors (BD) has increased in many countries.AimWe aimed to describe trends in syphilis seroposivity in BD in France, to identify risk factors and assess if a non-treponemic test (NTT) could define BD having recovered from syphilis for more than 1 year.MethodsThe analysis covered the period 2007 to 2022 and 45,875,939 donations. Of the 474 BD syphilis-positive in 2022, 429 underwent additional investigations with an NTT. History of syphilis was obtained at the post-donation interview or based on serology results for repeat donors.ResultsUntil 2021, positivity rates remained stable (mean: 1.18/10,000 donations, range: 1.01-1.38). An increased rate was observed in 2022 (1.74/10,000; p = 0.02). Over the whole study period, prevalence was 2.2 times higher in male than in female BD (4.1 times higher in 2022). The proportion of males with an identified risk factor who have sex with men increased from 16.7% in 2007 to 64.9% in 2022. Based on NTT, 79 (18%) of the donors who were seropositive in 2022 were classified as having been infected in the previous year. History of syphilis was available for 30 of them. All had an infection within the previous 3 years. Among seven donors with a syphilis < 12 months before testing, one had an NTT titre ≥ 8, three a titre between 1 and 4, three were negative.ConclusionSyphilis seropositivity increased considerably in BDs in 2022, mostly in males, notably MSM. Available data did not allow appropriate evaluation of the NTT to distinguish recent from past infection.

Background and Objectives: The process of selecting blood donors is crucial for keeping the health of donors and ensuring the safety of the blood supply. However, it may create unpleasant feeling in those who are deferred. In this study, we aim to explore the return rates of Iranian deferred donors in comparison with eligible donors., Materials and Methods: The study included all whole blood donors referred between March 2017 and March 2018, who experienced temporary deferral for any reason. Donors who successfully donated blood during this period were also part of the study. Participants were followed up until their next donation attempt, spanning 4.8 years after initial inclusion. Then odds of return and median return time for both deferred and eligible donors were calculated., Results: From 993,824 volunteers, 733,153 (73.77%) were eligible and 192,332 (19.35%) temporary deferred. The return rate in the eligible and deferred donors was 74.77% vs. 51.77%, respectively (OR:2.78; 99%CI: 2.71-2.81). Odds of return among deferred regular (OR = 7.02, 99%CI:6.64-7.42), men (OR: 2.57, 99%CI:2.45-2.69), and over 45 years (OR: 1.15, 99% CI: 1.09-1.20), was higher than first-time, women, and younger donors. The median return time for eligible and deferred donors was 315 (99%CI: 313-316) and 1,467(99%CI: 1,412-1,524) days, respectively., Conclusion: This study revealed the negative effect of deferral on the return rate, that led to a 23% reduction in the return of deferred donors. Avoiding unnecessary deferral through adherence to the standard operating procedure of donor selection and effective counselling which clarifies the purpose of deferral and encourages them to return after the deferral period ends are recommended., (Copyright © 2024 Société française de transfusion sanguine (SFTS). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health and socioeconomic impacts worldwide. Extensive measures, including contact restrictions, were implemented to control the spread of the virus. This study aims to examine the factors that influenced private and professional contact behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic., Results: We used baseline data (January-April 2021) from the SeMaCo study (Serologische Untersuchungen bei Blutspendern des Großraums Magdeburg auf Antikörper gegen SARS-CoV-2), a longitudinal, regional cohort study assessing COVID-19 seroprevalence in blood donors from Magdeburg and surrounding areas in Germany. In the blood donor cohort (n = 2,195), there was a general reduction in private contacts (by 78.9%) and professional contacts (by 54.4%) after March 18, 2020. Individuals with higher education reduced both private (by 84.1%) and professional (by 70.1%) contacts more than those with lower education levels (private contacts 59.5%; professional contacts 37%). Younger age groups (18-30 years) reduced private contacts more frequently (by 85.4%) than older individuals (61-83 years, by 68.6%) and demonstrated a higher likelihood of private contact reduction compared to older age groups (51-60 years: odds ratio (OR) 0.45 [95% [CI] 0.32-0.65]; 61-83 years: OR 0.33 [95% [CI] 0.22-0.48])., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

People with certain blood groups and Rh positive are more prone to infections transmitted by blood transfusion. The aim of this research was to survey the accompaniment of ABO Blood Group System and Rh type with infection to hepatitis C virus in India. This was a retrospective study in patients during October 2019-March2022 in India. The population of blood donors was tested for blood borne infections, including HCV. Logistic regression was used and collected data were analyzed using SPSS v.16.A total number of 901 people referred to the organization for donating blood during aforementioned years. Of these, 224 people had a history of hepatitis C disease, including 189 unmarried persons and the rest were married. 167 individuals were males and 57individuals were females. People who had viral diseases were comprised of 76 persons with negative Rh and 148positive persons with Rh.Future aims should include studies into blood groups and Rh types, according to the results of this study, in order to avoid the spread of blood-borne infections. Furthermore, further study is needed to establish the particular blood kinds that provide an elevated danger for classified donors.

Background: College and university students were an important population group of blood donors, especially in the current situation of tight blood supply. This study aimed to investigate the current status and determinants of blood donation among this population group in Wuhan using a structural equation model., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 12 colleges and universities in Wuhan, China, including 5168 students. Sociodemographic characteristics, health status, knowledge about blood donation, and attitude toward blood donation were treated as latent variables, with blood donation as the observed variable. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the Mplus 8.0 statistical software application, followed by the establishment of a structural equation model to assess the relationships that exist between these variables., Results: The overall blood donation rate among college and university students was 24.71%. The established model indicated that sociodemographic characteristics, health status, knowledge about blood donation, and attitude toward blood donation showed significant positive effects (0.135, 0.056, 0.321, and 0.389, respectively) on blood donation, among them, the direct effects were 0.076, -0.110, 0.143, and 0.389, respectively (P < 0.01). Additionally, sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and knowledge about blood donation had indirectly affected blood donation through the mediating effect of attitude towards blood donation. Their effects on attitude towards blood donation were 0.099, 0.243, and 0.468, respectively. (P < 0.01). The model could explain explained 22.22% of the variance in blood donation behavior among college and university students in Wuhan., Conclusion: Blood donation among college and university students in Wuhan was associated with sociodemographic characteristics, health status, knowledge about blood donation, and attitude towards blood donation, with attitude being the primary influencing factor. Tailored recruitment strategies for blood donation among students should prioritize initiatives aimed at enhancing knowledge about blood donation and fostering positive attitudes toward it., (© 2024. The Author(s).)