ASSESSING BLOOD SAFETY IN A TRIBAL DISTRICT OF GUJARAT: TRANSFUSION-TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTION BURDEN AMONG BLOOD DONORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65605/a-jmrhs.2026.v04.i01.pp1275-1277Keywords:
Blood Donors, Blood Transfusion, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C Antibodies, HIV Infections, Syphilis, Seroprevalence, Transfusion-Transmissible Infections.Abstract
Introduction: Blood transfusion is an essential component of modern healthcare but carries the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), which remain a significant global concern. Aim: To determine the prevalence of TTIs among blood donors at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Blood Centre of Zydus Medical College and Hospital, Dahod, Gujarat, from March 2024 to January 2025. A total of 8,500 voluntary blood donors were included. Donor screening involved medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing for HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and syphilis using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 8,500 donors, 96.98% were males and 3.02% females. Most donors belonged to the 18–30 years age group (54.94%). The overall prevalence of TTIs was 4.34%. HBsAg showed the highest prevalence (2.59%), followed by syphilis (1.11%), HIV (0.46%), and HCV (0.36%). Conclusion: The study demonstrates a relatively low TTI prevalence, with hepatitis B as the predominant infection. Strengthening donor awareness and maintaining continuous epidemiological surveillance are essential for ensuring blood safety.
