Search

Background and Objectives: Some blood operators routinely screen blood donations for high‐titre (HT) anti‐A/B to reduce the risk of a haemolytic transfusion reaction due to out‐of‐group plasma‐rich components. We assessed donor factors associated with an increased likelihood of screening positive and compared routine data between England and Australia. Materials and Methods: Data were assessed from HT screening during 2018–2020 in Australia and 2018–2021 in England, totalling nearly 6 million blood donations. Screening was performed using a Beckman Coulter PK7300 analyser with a micro‐titre plate saline direct agglutination test in both countries, although different reagent red cells were chosen. HT‐positive was defined as testing positive at a titre of 128 or above. Results: The likelihood of a donor testing HT‐positive was greater for females than males, declined with age and was dependent on the ABO group. However, the proportion of donors testing HT‐positive was consistently higher in Australia than in England: overall, 14% of group O donations and 5% of group A donations in England tested HT‐positive, compared with 51% and 22%, respectively in Australia. English data also showed that donors from Black, Asian or mixed ethnic backgrounds were more likely to test HT‐positive than White donors. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that donor sex, age, ABO group and ethnicity affect the likelihood of testing HT‐positive. Differences in testing methods likely had a significant impact on the proportion of donors testing as HT‐positive or ‐negative rather than any differences in donor populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Iron deficiency (ID) poses a prevalent concern among blood donors, especially impacting young donors, premenopausal females and frequent donors. In alignment with recommendations to address ID, routine ferritin testing was implemented in a hospital‐based donor centre.Data set, encompassing 26 164 ferritin values from 16 464 blood donors over 33 months, were analysed retrospectively. Ferritin levels were assessed concerning donor characteristics such as sex, age, ethnicity and donation frequency.Ferritin testing revealed age, sex and ethnicity variations, emphasising the heightened risk of ID in young females meeting all donation criteria under 23 year of age who demonstrated the lowest mean baseline ferritin (41% [CI: 34%–48%] < 26 ng/mL; 20% [CI: 14%–25%] < 15 ng/mL). Postmenopausal females exhibited ferritin levels similar to similarly aged males. Irrespective of sex, donors showcased mean ferritin recovery within 6 months. Analysis of ferritin recovery post‐donation showed a five‐fold increase in risk (compared with first visit) of ID when donors return at a 2‐month interval. ‘Regular’ donors (≥10 visits) approach a median steady ferritin level (~30–35 ng/mL) by the sixth visit.As reliance on regular blood donors increases, donation policies must strike a balance between blood centre resources and the risks posed to both regular and at‐risk donors. Frequent blood donation led to donors attaining a mean steady state ferritin level above the threshold for ID. At‐risk groups, particularly premenopausal females, were several times more likely to experience ID after donation but demonstrated recovery rates similar to their group's baseline levels. This valuable information informed the development of new donor deferral policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The B19 virus is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract; however, studies have shown that it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or plasma products. This study investigated B19V antibodies, DNA, and gene typing in blood donors at a central blood station in China to evaluate the status of B19V infection. Materials and methods: A total of 7728 samples from Suzhou Blood Center were collected from July 2022 to April 2023. Samples were detected for the B19V DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, 893 selected samples were screened for the seroprevalence of B19V antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NS1-VP1u fragment of the B19V DNA-positive samples was amplified using nested PCR, and the sequences were determined. A B19V phylogenetic tree was constructed using neighborhood joint and maximum parsimony methods to discriminate genotypes using the NS1-VP1u sequences. Results: The percentages of IgG, IgM, and DNA were 19.4 %, 1.9 %, and 0.09 %, respectively. IgG positivity increased with age, and there was a significant difference among the blood groups. The IgG levels of repeat donors were greater than those of first-time donors. There were no apparent differences in the IgM levels in all the participants. Genotyping revealed that the B19 genotype was 1. Conclusions: The prevalence of B19V antibodies and DNA was lower in these areas than in rest of China, indicating that the risk of B19V transmission via transfusion may be relatively low. However, during transfusion, particular attention should be paid to the B19V-susceptible populations, especially those in high-risk groups.

Background Hepatitis E Virus is a major cause of acute and fulminant hepatitis, particularly in developing countries. While the virus is commonly spread through the fecal-oral route, numerous cases of transfusion transmitted Hepatitis E Virus (TT-HEV) have been reported, raising concerns about its transmission via blood transfusions, especially in industrialized countries. The high prevalence of antibodies and viremia among asymptomatic blood donors further heightens the risk of transfusion-related transmission. However, there is still debate about the best strategy to minimize TT-HEV.Objective The review was conducted to Summarize the literature on TT-HEV infection cases and the prevalence of HEV among blood donors.Methods The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL were searched for relevant studies from 2000 to 2022.Serological and molecular screening data of HEV in blood donors were used to gather prevalence and incidence rates.TT-HEV cases were reviewed by examining evidence of HEV infection before and after transfusion.Results A total of 121 manuscripts reports the prevalence and incidence of HEV among blood donors and cases of TT-HEV. Twenty-six articles reported confirmed cases of TT-HEV and 101 articles reported on HEV prevalence or incidence among blood donors.Conclusion TT-HEV transmission through blood products is a real concern, especially for immunocompromised patients.The risk and severity of infection could vary between immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients.To increase transfusion safety, the evaluation recommends HEV screening protocols, especially in endemic region.

Motivated by the problem of accurately predicting gap times between successive blood donations, we present here a general class of Bayesian nonparametric models for clustering. These models allow for the prediction of new recurrences, accommodating covariate information that describes the personal characteristics of the sample individuals. We introduce a prior for the random partition of the sample individuals, which encourages two individuals to be co-clustered if they have similar covariate values. Our prior generalizes product partition models with covariates (PPMx) models in the literature, which are defined in terms of cohesion and similarity functions. We assume cohesion functions that yield mixtures of PPMx models, while our similarity functions represent the denseness of a cluster. We show that including covariate information in the prior specification improves the posterior predictive performance and helps interpret the estimated clusters in terms of covariates in the blood donation application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: In Canada, the time deferral for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) to donate blood has gradually decreased. In September 2022, this deferral was replaced with sexual behaviour‐based screening for all donors. We investigate how data from targeted research programmes addressed knowledge gaps to support this change. Materials and Methods: We conducted a scoping review describing the Canadian literature available before the research programmes relating to (1) behavioural indicators of HIV risk and (2) attitudes to blood donation among gbMSM, current donors and the general population. We summarize the targeted research programmes, their outputs and impact to date. Results: For question 1, five projects met inclusion criteria. For question 2, three articles met inclusion criteria. Knowledge gaps identified were insufficient evidence of HIV incidence in gbMSM who met other donor eligibility criteria and scant data on opinions and views of blood donation and screening criteria for sexual risk behaviours. The research programmes funded 19 projects at 11 different research sites involving over 100 individual researchers/collaborators resulting in 19 peer‐reviewed publications to date. Leveraging existing gbMSM cohorts yielded relevant HIV incidence data to inform safety modelling studies. Findings indicated that sexual behaviour‐based screening was acceptable to gbMSM and donors, and donor discomfort around specific questions could be mitigated with clear explanations. Conclusion: Targeted research programmes filled critical knowledge gaps and informed a change to gender‐neutral, sexual behaviour‐based screening for all donors. Findings supported successful implementation of these changes with research‐informed staff training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Japan, "Blood Donation Promotion 2025," a blood donation target, was established based on a predicted blood donation rate of 5.7% in 2025, which was calculated by the Blood Donation Promotion Study Group (BD research group) of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare using nationwide blood donation data through 2018. However, COVID‐19 since 2020 may affect the blood donation rate in Japan. Method: Data from 75.5 million blood donations from 2006 to 2020 was used. The age‐period‐cohort model (APC model) was applied to estimate age, period, and birth cohort factors on blood donation rate and to predict the age‐specific blood donation rates from 2021 to 2035. Results: The APC model was highly reproducible for blood donation rates (modified R2 = 0.99). The blood donation rate in 2020 was 6.0% (5.04 million), an increase compared to 2019. Comparing this study with the BD research group, the predicted blood donation rates in 2025 for those 16–19 years old and in 20s are lower (4.8% vs. 5.2% and 5.3% vs. 5.5%) but those among 50s and 60s are higher (7.9% vs. 7.5% and 4.2% vs. 3.9%, respectively). Discussion: The number of blood donations in 2020 increased despite COVID‐19 and it proved that the blood donation promotion was effective. The different age‐specific blood donation rates between our study and the report of BD research group infers the effect of COVID‐19 on blood donation were differed by age and suggested the need for different approaches to blood donation promotion by generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymptomatic blood donors can transmit human parvovirus B19 (B19V). We assessed the B19V prevalence amongst a large cohort of blood donations collected in Germany during 2015-2018. In total, 167,123 donations were screened for B19V DNA with 22 cases of viraemia identified (0.013% positive). Infections peaked at a four-year interval and the highest number of cases occurred in the summer months. All 22 infections were found in rhesus D-antigen positive donations, suggesting a protective factor in donors who lack this antigen. These findings contribute to our understanding of risk factors for B19V infection among central European blood and plasma donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) collects blood from volunteer DoD donors in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐regulated centers, and from emergency donor panels in overseas operations. Emerging infectious diseases could reduce DoD access to blood products. In August 2016, FDA determined that Zika virus was transfusion‐transmitted and advised that donated blood should be screened for Zika utilizing one of two investigational new drug (IND) applications. The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) tested blood using its own protocol concurrently with the IND study sponsored by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., titled "A Prospective Study to Evaluate the Specificity of the cobas Zika test for use on the cobas 6800/8800 System for Screening of Blood Donations for the Presence of Zika virus RNA." Study Design and Methods: This prospective clinical trial (September 2016–August 2017) evaluated the specificity of the cobas Zika 6800/8800 System. Consenting volunteers were screened for Zika by participating reference labs. Participants with positive screens were offered a follow‐up study using alternative PCR and serology assays. Results: 92,618 DoD donors enrolled; four tested positive on screening (0.0043%; CI 0.001176896%, 0.01105894%). Three enrolled in follow‐up testing and none were positive. These results were comparable to all U.S. donors: 3,858,114 enrolled (excluding Puerto Rico) with 459 positive screens (0.0119%; CI 0.01083582%, 0.01303962%). Conclusion: The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the cobas Zika test. DoD donors, who are included in emergency donor panels during military operations, were at no higher risk for Zika than the overall U.S. donor population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis E Virus is a major cause of acute and fulminant hepatitis, particularly in developing countries. While the virus is commonly spread through the fecal-oral route, numerous cases of transfusion transmitted Hepatitis E Virus (TT-HEV) have been reported, raising concerns about its transmission via blood transfusions, especially in industrialized countries. The high prevalence of antibodies and viremia among asymptomatic blood donors further heightens the risk of transfusion-related transmission. However, there is still debate about the best strategy to minimize TT-HEV., Objective: The review was conducted to Summarize the literature on TT-HEV infection cases and the prevalence of HEV among blood donors., Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL were searched for relevant studies from 2000 to 2022.Serological and molecular screening data of HEV in blood donors were used to gather prevalence and incidence rates.TT-HEV cases were reviewed by examining evidence of HEV infection before and after transfusion., Results: A total of 121 manuscripts reports the prevalence and incidence of HEV among blood donors and cases of TT-HEV. Twenty-six articles reported confirmed cases of TT-HEV and 101 articles reported on HEV prevalence or incidence among blood donors., Conclusion: TT-HEV transmission through blood products is a real concern, especially for immunocompromised patients.The risk and severity of infection could vary between immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients.To increase transfusion safety, the evaluation recommends HEV screening protocols, especially in endemic region., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. Karnataka India. 576104. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

• In selected sample MSM had greater intent to donate with shorter deferrals. • The shortened 3-month deferral did not increase adherence in surveyed MSM. • The majority of MSM participants who donated blood did so against guidelines. • No deferral period for surveyed MSM would result is the greatest turnout. Eligibility criteria for blood product donation are important for the safety of the blood supply, though many have called into question criteria that limit donations for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM). Recently, in the U.S.A., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), decreased the 'deferral' period, the period in which one must abstain from sex, for MSM, from twelve months to three. This study examined the proportion of MSM respondents that donated blood under past and current deferral policies, as well as the proportion that would consider donating under hypothetical shorter deferral policies. To achieve this, an electronic survey was disseminated on social media platforms via virtual flier calling for participation from a self-selected convenience sample of the MSM community. Compared to either the 12-month or 3-month deferral policies, intent to donate blood was significantly higher in both alternative two week or no deferral policy scenarios. The majority of respondents who did donate did so without following deferral guidelines under both the 12-month and 3-month policies. There was no significant change in the proportion of those who donated against guidelines between the twelve- and three-month deferrals. While social media is an effective tool for survey work it poses significant risk for selection bias. Further studies with diverse sampling are necessary to better elucidate blood production donation trends within the MSM community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The B19 virus is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract; however, studies have shown that it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or plasma products. This study investigated B19V antibodies, DNA, and gene typing in blood donors at a central blood station in China to evaluate the status of B19V infection., Materials and Methods: A total of 7728 samples from Suzhou Blood Center were collected from July 2022 to April 2023. Samples were detected for the B19V DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, 893 selected samples were screened for the seroprevalence of B19V antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NS1-VP1u fragment of the B19V DNA-positive samples was amplified using nested PCR, and the sequences were determined. A B19V phylogenetic tree was constructed using neighborhood joint and maximum parsimony methods to discriminate genotypes using the NS1-VP1u sequences., Results: The percentages of IgG, IgM, and DNA were 19.4 %, 1.9 %, and 0.09 %, respectively. IgG positivity increased with age, and there was a significant difference among the blood groups. The IgG levels of repeat donors were greater than those of first-time donors. There were no apparent differences in the IgM levels in all the participants. Genotyping revealed that the B19 genotype was 1., Conclusions: The prevalence of B19V antibodies and DNA was lower in these areas than in rest of China, indicating that the risk of B19V transmission via transfusion may be relatively low. However, during transfusion, particular attention should be paid to the B19V-susceptible populations, especially those in high-risk groups., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most frequent viral infection found in blood donors (BDs) in France. We analyzed the epidemiological and sero-molecular data on HBV infection gathered over the past two decades by the French haemovigilance surveillance network, blood screening laboratories, and the national reference center for transfusion infectious risks (NRC). Between 2000 and 2020, 6149 of the 58,160,984 donations (1.06/10,000) tested HBV positive, 98% of them from first-time blood donors (FTBDs). In addition, 2212 (0.0071%) of the 30,977,753 donations screened for HBV DNA tested DNA positive, of which 25 (1.1%) were positive only for this marker. HBV prevalence decreased by 2.8-fold and the residual risk for transfusion-transmitted HBV infection decreased 13-fold and was divided by 13. The major risk factor for HBV infection was the origin of donors (endemic country, 66.5%), followed by parenteral exposure (10.7%). In the whole HBV-positive BD population, genotype D was predominant (41.8%), followed by genotypes A (26.2%) and E (20.4%), reflecting the geographical origin of donors. The low and decreasing prevalence and incidence of HBV infection in French BDs, coupled with a screening strategy using three HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc and DNA), ensures a high level of blood safety, further reinforced by the implementation of pathogen-reduction measures.

Objectives: To estimate the number of actually Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infected blood donors applying a statistical forecasting model. Background: Following the outbreak of the SARS‐CoV‐2 epidemic, a drop in blood donation has been observed. It is crucial to determine the actual number of potential SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive donors to define the measures and ensure adequate blood supply. Methods: The cumulative incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 positivity, calculated on the general population, was applied to the donor population by estimating the number of positive subjects. The calculation model was validated by the linear interpolation method. The number of blood units actually discarded based on post‐donation information was also taken into account. Results: Three months after the outbreak, 5322 donors were estimated to be positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 and were therefore potentially excluded from donation. A total of units of blood components were discarded following post donation information. The estimated number of donors deceased (180) and the number of clinically recovered individuals in the same period was also considered. Conclusion: This forecasting model can be used to obtain information on blood donors' involvement during future SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreaks, especially in case of changes concerning epidemiology, incidence by age bracket and geographical distribution and also for new outbreaks of emerging viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To metagenomically analyse blood units originating from the Brazilian Amazon and positive for parenterally transmitted infections (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), Chagas disease or syphilis). Methods: Twenty plasma samples (35% HBV-positive, 10% HIV-positive, 10% HCV-positive, 20% positive for syphilis, 20% for Chagas disease, and 5% for HTLV) assembled in pools were analysed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. The obtained raw sequencing data were submitted to a bioinformatic pipeline set up for identification of emerging viruses. The viral reads of interest were phylogenetically analysed and confirmed by PCR in the individual samples. Results: The metagenomic analysis identified contigs belonging to the emerging human Gemykibivirus-2 (HuGkV-2) in two pools. The HuGkV-1 phylogeny demonstrated that the Amazonian isolate formed a separate cluster with other HuGkV-2 strains obtained from human hosts. The PCR confirmation detected HuGkV-1 DNA in three individual samples (15%). Conclusions: HuGkV-2 is an emerging virus with unknown clinical impact. The detection of HuGkV-2 DNA in blood donations positive for parenterally transmitted infections showed that HuGkV-2 can be considered as an opportunistic viral agent with a hypothetic parenteral transmission route.

Influenza A virus infection has rarely been documented to cause viremia. In 28 blood donations in Brazil that were deferred because of postdonation information, we identified influenza A(H3N2) virus RNA in 1 donation using metagenomic analysis. Our finding implies theoretical risk for viremia and transfusion transmission.

Abstract Background Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by a small RNA virus known as hepatitis E virus (HEV). Four major genotypes infect humans, of which genotype 1 and 2 (HEV-1, HEV-2) are endemic mainly in Asia and responsible for waterborne epidemics. HEV-3 and HEV-4 are widely distributed in pigs and can be transmitted to humans mainly by undercooked meat, and contact with pigs. HEV-3 is the main genotype in industrialised countries with moderate climate conditions and object of this debate. Main text Whereas an HEV-3 infection in healthy humans is mostly asymptomatic, HEV-3 can induce chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in patients with underlying liver diseases. The number of reported cases of HEV-infections in industrialised nations increased significantly in the last years. Since HEV-3 has been transmitted by blood transfusion to other humans, testing of blood donors has been introduced or introduction is being discussed in some industrialised countries. In this article we summarise the arguments in favour of testing all blood donations for HEV-3. Conclusion The number of HEV infection in the population and the possibility of HEV transmission by blood transfusion are increasing. Transmission by blood transfusion can be dangerous for the recipients considering their immunosuppressive status, underlying disease or other circumstances requiring blood transfusion. This argues in favour of testing all blood donations for HEV-3 to prevent transmission.

Positive feedback about the outcome of volunteers' prosocial actions is often thought to help motivate continued volunteers' engagement. In the context of blood donations, various collection systems have begun to provide blood donors feedback on successful utilization of their blood donation. An experiment conducted by the main NGO that supports the collection of blood in Italy studies how such feedback affects subsequent blood donations. From a sample of over 8'000 blood donors, we find that providing feedback of successful utilization decreases donations. Though surprising, these results are consistent with theoretical models in which individuals engage in prosocial behavior to sustain a positive self-image: feedback about the outcome of a recent donation can act as reminders that boost self-image and reduce the need for re-engaging soon in prosocial activities. Interestingly for policy, we also show that combining the feedback with an explicit request to sign up for a new donation can eliminate, but not overturn, the negative effect of the feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ante la creciente importancia del estudio del capital social como componente institucional y la escasez de estudios empíricos a menor escala y fuera de los Estados Unidos, este trabajo pretende identificar algunos de determinantes observables del capital social en los municipios y comarcas de Cataluña, así como su relación con los niveles de capital social y su distribución territorial. Esto se consigue mediante el uso de la participación electoral, la densidad asociativa y las donaciones de sangre como variables de capital social. Usando datos de corte transversal y de panel y mediante regresiones por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios y de efectos aleatorios respectivamente se encuentran efectos relevantes sobre el capital social del grado de movilidad residencial, la densidad de población y asociativa, el régimen de propiedad de la vivienda, la renta, el nivel educativo y la edad. En ciertos casos las relaciones se corresponden con las encontradas en la literatura existente. Además, extrayendo sus componentes principales se elabora un índice de capital social, con el cual se observa una distribución geográfica desigual del atributo, penalizando el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona y la costa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We test how material rewards affect blood donations in a field experiment. • The experiment spanned three months and a fifteen-month follow-up period and involved more than 10,000 previous donors. • Lottery tickets increase donations, in particular among less motivated donors. • The free cholesterol test leads to no discernable impact on blood donations. • No reduction in donations is observed after the experiment. There is a longstanding concern that material rewards might undermine pro-social motivations, thereby leading to a decrease in blood donations. This paper provides an empirical test of how material rewards affect blood donations in a three-month large-scale field experiment and a fifteen-month follow-up period, involving more than 10,000 previous donors. We examine the efficacy of a lottery ticket as a reward vis-à-vis a standard invitation, an appeal, and a free cholesterol test. The offer of a lottery ticket, on average, increases the probability to donate blood during the experiment by 5.6 percentage points over a baseline donation rate of 46%. We find that this effect is driven by less motivated donors. Moreover, no reduction in donations is observed after the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of monetary incentives on whole blood donations. We take advantage of a quasi‐natural experiment in Germany, in which one blood donation site changes its payment scheme from remunerated to non‐remunerated. All other donation sites maintain their payment schemes. We show that donation volumes drop significantly after the pay drop and do not recuperate. At the same time, donation volumes increase at other paid donation sites, which is partly due to donor migration to these sites. We do not find any impact of the changed payment scheme on blood quality. Our results offer additional insight into the complex question whether it is efficient to ensure blood supply by paying donors a direct monetary compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Thrombocytosis is a disease where the platelet count exceeds 600,000/μl. It is usually reactive in nature, less often clonal. Reactive thrombocytosis is usually a response to reactive inflammation or infection, splenectomy, iron deficiency, pregnancy, physical effort or cancer. Case Report The case is described of a heart attack with ST-segment elevation in a 19-year-old male which was occurred due to intensive haematopoietic system renewal, caused by frequent blood donation which, in turn, caused reactive thrombocytosis. Reactive thrombocytosis is very rarely the cause of heart attack with ST-segment elevation, and is extremely rarely caused by blood donation. It is generally considered that reactive thrombocytosis is not a risk factor in the case of thromboembolic complications. Conclusion The presented case and the literature point to the risk of serious thromboembolic incidents, including heart attack, in the course of thrombocytosis.

Although sense of civic duty is seen by many scholars as the most obvious solution to the paradox of voting, very few empirical studies provide clear evidence on that motive. We use blood donation to build proxies, focusing only on intrinsic motivations, and then introduce such measures into electoral turnout regressions. Our results show that civic duty has a strong influence on voter turnout rates, confirming that the satisfaction voters receive from voting matters regardless of election outcomes. The results are even stronger when we incorporate the number of plasma and platelet donations, which take more time and require stronger commitments from donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current algorithm to support platelets stock management assumes that there are always sufficient whole blood donations (WBD) to produce the required amount of pooled platelets. Unfortunately, blood donation rate is uncertain so there is the need to backup pooled platelets productions with single-donor (apheresis) collections to compensate periods of low WBD. The aim of this work was to predict the daily number of WBD to a tertiary care center to preemptively account for a decrease of platelets production. We have collected 62,248 blood donations during 3 years, the daily count of which was used to feed (standalone and ensemble versions of) six prediction models, which were evaluated using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE). Forecast models have shown better performances with a MAE of about 8.6 donations, 34% better than using means or medians alone. Trend lines of donations are better modeled by autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) using a frequency of 365 days, the trade-off being the need for at least two years of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The presence of antibodies to Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) can be detected in blood donations. Donation-based surveillance provides an alternative strategy to estimate population prevalence by detecting antibodies that are circulating. To estimate population prevalence, we conducted a systematic review of literature on the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV antibodies in blood donations. We searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies that reported the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV in blood donations. The title and abstract of each study were screened by 2 reviewers simultaneously for possible inclusion, and the full text of selected studies was reviewed to ensure that they met inclusion criteria (used primary data collection, reported evidence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) or immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in the blood supply, and included a representative sample of the total population). Immunoglobin test measuring levels of antibodies to IgM and IgG and number of positive cases were extracted from each study. No exclusions were made based on language or country. Our initial search identified 1890 studies after excluding duplicates, of which 76 were assessed for full text eligibility to ensure that they met our final inclusion criteria. There were 14 studies included in our review; 11 examined the seroprevalence of DENV, and 3 examined ZIKV. The highest seroprevalence by IgM was 2.82% for DENV and 0.53% for ZIKV. Our results indicate that the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV antibody presence in countries with active transmission is higher than reports by traditional surveillance in some countries. This finding is expected due to the large percentage of asymptomatic cases. The highest seroprevalence was observed for IgG, which can persist over long periods of time compared to IgM. Screening of blood donations may help supplement traditional surveillance measures, especially during outbreak settings. Highlights • Blood donation screening may be used to complement traditional surveillance measures. • Dengue virus is more prevalent than Zika virus in the blood supply. • Seroprevalence of dengue and Zika virus is highest when using immunoglobulin G test. • Seroprevalence of dengue and Zika virus varies substantially by country and region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's blood-borne HIV catastrophe in the 1990s prompted the government to adopt a blood-collection system that combines voluntary donations with the state's monopoly on blood services. Juxtaposing fieldwork and survey data, this study examines how the intricate interplay between government manoeuvres and citizen reactions has led to blood shortages that are serious yet manageable. This article reveals that even though voluntary blood donations are adversely affected by a public distrust of state-run collection agencies, owing to political concerns healthcare officials shirk from engaging with citizens to overcome the distrust. It also finds that the blood shortages are nevertheless largely manageable because the authorities have the capacity to recruit captive donors through work units, with the caveat that such captive practices are used sparingly. Overall, this study argues that the lack of state–society synergy in voluntary donations, while exacerbated by government involvement, is also partially remedied by the government's mobilization of captive donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cycloviruses, small ssDNA viruses belonging to the Circoviridae family, have been suggested as possible causes of enteric, respiratory and neurological disorders in human patients. One of these species, cyclovirus-Vietnam (CyCV-VN), initially isolated from cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with unexplained neurological disorders, has since been reported in serum samples from chronically patients infected with HBV, HCV or HIV, in Italy. On the other hand, CyCV-VN was not detected in serum samples from healthy individuals. Here, we report on a high prevalence of 43.4% (40/92) of CyCV-VN in plasma samples from asymptomatic blood donors from Madagascar. Interestingly, this virus was not detected by metagenomics and PCR in six other African countries, suggesting regional differences in CyCV-VN prevalence across Africa. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genomes showed that CyCV-VN sequences isolated from blood were most closely related to sequences previously reported from human stool in Madagascar. Further investigations using larger cohorts are required to determine the global epidemiology, the natural history and the pathological significance, if any, of CyCV-VN infection in humans. Highlights • CyCV-VN reads identified in plasma virome of blood donations from Madagascar. • High CyCV-VN prevalence in plasma samples from Madagascan blood donors • CyCV-VN strains isolated from blood are clearly related to those previously reported. • Regional differences in CyCV-VN prevalence across Africa • First identification of CyCV-VN in asymptomatic blood donors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-saving transfusions and numerous other medical treatments are enabled by a minority of people that donate blood. But why do some people repeatedly engage in such prosocial behaviour, especially when it is costly to themselves? This study examines to what extent social contagion within neighbourhoods – changing behaviour in response to the behaviour of others – affects repeated blood donation behaviour. We draw on longitudinal survey and register data from a representative sample of blood donors in the Netherlands from 2007 to 2014 (N = 15,090). Using a panel data model and an instrumental variable approach, we find that donors are positively affected by donations made by other donors living in their neighbourhood. This effect does not seem to be mediated by normative or informational social influence. Exploratory analysis further attributes this finding to social contagion within donor couples. Our study contributes to the literature on repeated blood donation behaviour, and can inform retention strategies of blood banks. • Blood donations are affected by social contagion within neighbourhoods. • This effect can likely be attributed to social contagion among donor couples. • Social contagion is not explained by normative and informational social influence. • Blood banks could target retention efforts to groups and couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human Gemykibivirus-2 (HuGkV-2) is an emerging virus. • HuGkV-2 DNA was identified by viral metagenomics in blood donors from the Brazilian Amazon. • HuGkV-2 was present as a co-infection with HIV, hepatitis B virus and syphilis. • HuGvK-2 may show a possible parenteral route of transmission. To metagenomically analyse blood units originating from the Brazilian Amazon and positive for parenterally transmitted infections (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), Chagas disease or syphilis). Twenty plasma samples (35% HBV-positive, 10% HIV-positive, 10% HCV-positive, 20% positive for syphilis, 20% for Chagas disease, and 5% for HTLV) assembled in pools were analysed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. The obtained raw sequencing data were submitted to a bioinformatic pipeline set up for identification of emerging viruses. The viral reads of interest were phylogenetically analysed and confirmed by PCR in the individual samples. The metagenomic analysis identified contigs belonging to the emerging human Gemykibivirus-2 (HuGkV-2) in two pools. The HuGkV-1 phylogeny demonstrated that the Amazonian isolate formed a separate cluster with other HuGkV-2 strains obtained from human hosts. The PCR confirmation detected HuGkV-1 DNA in three individual samples (15%). HuGkV-2 is an emerging virus with unknown clinical impact. The detection of HuGkV-2 DNA in blood donations positive for parenterally transmitted infections showed that HuGkV-2 can be considered as an opportunistic viral agent with a hypothetic parenteral transmission route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza A virus infection has rarely been documented to cause viremia. In 28 blood donations in Brazil that were deferred because of postdonation information, we identified influenza A(H3N2) virus RNA in 1 donation using metagenomic analysis. Our finding implies theoretical risk for viremia and transfusion transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Donor reaction has the most negative impact on the blood donor return rate. Amelioration of some adverse events has the potential to improve return rate. This study was initiated with the aim to determine the frequency of various adverse reactions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 7 years and 1 month, from July 1, 2007, to August 31, 2014. The donor population analyzed consisted of 27,664 donors (26,557 males and 1107 females). Results: Only 195 donors (0.7%) suffered some adverse reactions. One hundred and fifty-eight (0.57% of the subjects) had mild reactions (agitation, sweating, giddiness, pallor, cold feeling, sense of weakness, nausea), and only 37 (0.13% with 10 females and 27 males) had more severe reactions (including vomiting, fainting, loss of consciousness, and convulsive syncope). Conclusions: Although the number of donors who developed adverse reactions during or immediately after the blood donation was very low, still it is very important to reduce risks to a minimum so that donor return rate could be maintained.

Background: The determination of the role of mobile sites, as compared with fixed sites, in providing safe blood supply will help with the planning of future programs.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the Khuzestan Blood Transfusion Organization from 2007 to 2012. Samples of the blood collected at mobile sites and fixed sites were compared. Comparisons took into consideration noticeable trends as well as the prevalence of major TTIs including HIV, HBV and HCV.Results: The total number of blood donations from 2007 to 2012 was 621117 out of which 89590 (14.43%) were collected from mobile sites. The overall blood donation index was estimated at 23.8 per 1000 population. The prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV in mobile site donations was 5.31, 320.34 and 117.4, and in fixed sites was 5.31, 214.72 and 104.83 per 100000 donations respectively. HBV prevalence in mobile sites was significantly higher than in fixed sites (p = 0.014).Conclusion: The blood donation index in Khuzestan province is much better when compared with areas of similar socioeconomic status as well as neighboring countries. The allotment of blood units collected by mobile teams is lower than that of national reports. In addition, the prevalence of TTIs in mobile site blood donations was higher than at fixed sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis (HEV) is widely distributed in pigs and is transmitted with increasing numbers to humans by contact with pigs, contaminated food and blood transfusion. The virus is mostly apathogenic in pigs but may enhance the pathogenicity of other pig viruses. In humans, infection can lead to acute and chronic hepatitis and extrahepatic manifestations. In order to stop the emerging infection, effective counter-measures are required. First of all, transmission by blood products can be prevented by screening all blood donations. Meat and sausages should be appropriately cooked. Elimination of the virus from the entire pork production can be achieved by sensitive testing and elimination programs including early weaning, colostrum deprivation, Caesarean delivery, embryo transfer, treatment with antivirals, protection from de novo infection, and possibly vaccination. In addition, contaminated water, shellfish, vegetables, and fruits by HEV-contaminated manure should be avoided. A special situation is given in xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues or organs in order to alleviate the lack of human transplants. The elimination of HEV from pigs, other animals and humans is consistent with the One Health concept, preventing subclinical infections in the animals as well as preventing transmission to humans and disease.