SEROREACTIVITY FOR TRANSFUSION-TRANSMISSIBLE INFECTIONS AMONG BLOOD DONATIONS: A 5.5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN TELANGANA

Abstract

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) remain an important preventable hazard of blood transfusion. Local audits of screening-marker reactivity are needed to evaluate donor selection and laboratory screening practices. Objective: To estimate the seroreactivity of mandatory TTI screening markers and describe the donor pool at a government medical college blood centre in northern Telangana over 5.5 years. Methods: A retrospective record-based cross-sectional study included all 6083 whole-blood donations collected from January 2020 through May 2025. Donations were screened for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, syphilis, and malaria according to the centre's routine protocol. Marker-specific and overall seroreactivity were reported with Wilson 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Annual variation was assessed using Pearson's chi-square test and temporal trend using the Cochran–Armitage test. Results: Of 6083 donations, 4380 (72.0%) were voluntary and 1703 (28.0%) were replacement donations; 6039 (99.3%) were from male donors. Thirty-eight donations were reactive for at least one marker (0.62%; 95% CI 0.46%–0.86%). Syphilis-screening reactivity was most frequent (24; 0.39%; 95% CI 0.27%–0.59%), followed by HBsAg (10; 0.16%; 95% CI 0.09%–0.30%) and HIV (4; 0.07%; 95% CI 0.03%–0.17%). No anti-HCV- or malaria-reactive donation was recorded. Annual overall seroreactivity ranged from 0.33% to 0.92%, without a significant temporal trend (p=0.691) or between-year heterogeneity (p=0.627). Conclusion: Overall TTI screening-marker reactivity was low in this selected donor population. Syphilis-screening reactivity accounted for most reactive donations, but interpretation depends on confirmation of the exact assay and testing algorithm. Continued voluntary-donor recruitment, rigorous quality assurance, donor counselling, and consideration of nucleic acid testing may further improve blood safety.