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O'Brien SF, Ehsani-Moghaddam B, Osmond L, Fan W, Goldman M, Drews SJ. Epidemiology of Hepatitis C over 28 years of monitoring Canadian blood donors: Insight into a low-risk undiagnosed population. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2319. [PMID: 39192303 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada.
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada.
| | - Behrouz Ehsani-Moghaddam
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada
- Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, 220 Bagot Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3G2, Canada
| | - Lori Osmond
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Wenli Fan
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation and Policy Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1G 4J5, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K1G 5Z3, Canada
| | - Steven J Drews
- Microbiology, Canadian Blood Services, 8249-114 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, 118 Street & 86 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
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Goldman M, Lewin A, Renaud C, O'Brien SF. Implementation of sexual risk behavior donor screening in Canada. Transfusion 2024; 64:1254-1261. [PMID: 38757763 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The two Canadian blood suppliers, Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec, removed the time-based deferral for men who have sex with men and adopted criteria assessing sexual risk behaviors. We report the impact of these changes on the safety and adequacy of the Canadian blood supply. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Since 2022, all donors are asked if (1) they have had a new partner and (2) more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months. Donors answering yes to either question are asked if they had anal sex in the last 3 months; if yes, they are deferred for 3 months. We followed HIV rates for the 18 months before and 14 (Héma-Québec) or 18 months (Canadian Blood Services) post-implementation and interviewed HIV-positive whole blood donors. We assessed the number and characteristics of whole blood donors answering yes to the two first questions with or without deferral. RESULTS There were four HIV-positive donations out of 1,492,355 donations pre-implementation and four out of 1,447,772 post-implementation (0.27/100,000 vs. 0.28/100,000, p = 1.00). Post-implementation, one HIV-positive donor was non-compliant with multiple criteria, no risk factors were identified in the others. 3.2% of donors answered yes to questions (1) and/or (2); 0.17% were deferred for a new partner and/or more than one partner and anal sex. Deferral rates were highest in first time, younger donors, and similar in males and females. CONCLUSION Implementation of sexual risk behavior donor screening resulted in unchanged HIV rates to date and a manageable deferral rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy Goldman
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Saint-Laurent, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Saint-Laurent, Québec, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Stewart AG, Kotton CN. Impact of blood donation biovigilance and transfusion-transmitted infections on organ transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2024:e14324. [PMID: 38932709 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Over 118 million blood donations are collected globally each year. Recipients of blood products include those who experience major trauma or surgery, have acute blood loss and anemia, or impaired bone marrow function. Solid organ transplant recipients often require transfusion of blood products which places them at risk of transfusion-associated adverse events including transfusion-transmitted infection. National hemovigilance networks have documented low rates of transfusion-transmitted infection in the general population. Incidence transfusion-transmitted infection continues to occur in solid organ transplant patients and arises mainly from existing gaps in blood donor biovigilance processes. Emerging infectious diseases have highlighted existing gaps in the donor-recipient pathway to administering safe blood products. This article reviews the current process and regulatory oversight of blood donor biovigilance, including donor screening and microbiological testing, highlights cases of transfusion-transmitted infection documented in the literature, and addresses ways in which biovigilance may be improved, with a focus on the impact of solid organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam G Stewart
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Campus, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Camille Nelson Kotton
- Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Gould CV, Free RJ, Bhatnagar J, Soto RA, Royer TL, Maley WR, Moss S, Berk MA, Craig-Shapiro R, Kodiyanplakkal RPL, Westblade LF, Muthukumar T, Puius YA, Raina A, Hadi A, Gyure KA, Trief D, Pereira M, Kuehnert MJ, Ballen V, Kessler DA, Dailey K, Omura C, Doan T, Miller S, Wilson MR, Lehman JA, Ritter JM, Lee E, Silva-Flannery L, Reagan-Steiner S, Velez JO, Laven JJ, Fitzpatrick KA, Panella A, Davis EH, Hughes HR, Brault AC, St George K, Dean AB, Ackelsberg J, Basavaraju SV, Chiu CY, Staples JE. Transmission of yellow fever vaccine virus through blood transfusion and organ transplantation in the USA in 2021: report of an investigation. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e711-e721. [PMID: 37544313 PMCID: PMC11089990 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00170-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2021, four patients who had received solid organ transplants in the USA developed encephalitis beginning 2-6 weeks after transplantation from a common organ donor. We describe an investigation into the cause of encephalitis in these patients. METHODS From Nov 7, 2021, to Feb 24, 2022, we conducted a public health investigation involving 15 agencies and medical centres in the USA. We tested various specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular fluid, serum, and tissues) from the organ donor and recipients by serology, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, and host gene expression, and conducted a traceback of blood transfusions received by the organ donor. FINDINGS We identified one read from yellow fever virus in cerebrospinal fluid from the recipient of a kidney using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Recent infection with yellow fever virus was confirmed in all four organ recipients by identification of yellow fever virus RNA consistent with the 17D vaccine strain in brain tissue from one recipient and seroconversion after transplantation in three recipients. Two patients recovered and two patients had no neurological recovery and died. 3 days before organ procurement, the organ donor received a blood transfusion from a donor who had received a yellow fever vaccine 6 days before blood donation. INTERPRETATION This investigation substantiates the use of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the broad-based detection of rare or unexpected pathogens. Health-care workers providing vaccinations should inform patients of the need to defer blood donation for at least 2 weeks after receiving a yellow fever vaccine. Despite mitigation strategies and safety interventions, a low risk of transfusion-transmitted infections remains. FUNDING US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Cooperative Agreement for Infectious Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn V Gould
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Rebecca J Free
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julu Bhatnagar
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Raymond A Soto
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tricia L Royer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Warren R Maley
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sean Moss
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Matthew A Berk
- Department of Neurology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca Craig-Shapiro
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lars F Westblade
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thangamani Muthukumar
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoram A Puius
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amresh Raina
- Section of Advanced Heart Failure, Transplant, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Pulmonary Hypertension, Cardiovascular Institute, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Azam Hadi
- Section of Advanced Heart Failure, Transplant, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Pulmonary Hypertension, Cardiovascular Institute, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kymberly A Gyure
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Danielle Trief
- Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marcus Pereira
- Transplant Infectious Disease Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew J Kuehnert
- Office of the Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Hackensack, NJ, USA
| | - Vennus Ballen
- Bureau of Public Health Clinics, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
| | - Debra A Kessler
- Medical Programs and Services, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kimberly Dailey
- Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, West Virginia Department of Health, Charleston, WV, USA
| | - Charles Omura
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thuy Doan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steve Miller
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Wilson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Lehman
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Jana M Ritter
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Lee
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luciana Silva-Flannery
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah Reagan-Steiner
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jason O Velez
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Janeen J Laven
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kelly A Fitzpatrick
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amanda Panella
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Emily H Davis
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Holly R Hughes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Aaron C Brault
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kirsten St George
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Amy B Dean
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Joel Ackelsberg
- Bureau of Communicable Diseases, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sridhar V Basavaraju
- Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Charles Y Chiu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Erin Staples
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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van den Berg K, Murphy EL, Louw VJ, Maartens G, Hughes SD. Motivations for blood donation by HIV-positive individuals on antiretrovirals in South Africa: A qualitative study. Transfus Med 2023; 33:277-286. [PMID: 36799902 PMCID: PMC10403373 DOI: 10.1111/tme.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We performed a mixed-methods study to explore the motivations associated with blood donation by donors with known, but undisclosed HIV-positive status and ARV use (HIV+/ARV+), seeking potential strategies to reduce such donations and mitigate risk for blood recipients. Here, we report predominantly the qualitative component. BACKGROUND A safe and sustainable blood supply is dependent in part, on effective pre-donation donor assessment. We previously described failure by HIV+/ARV+ blood donors to disclose their status. Such donations may lead to transfusion-transmitted HIV. METHODS The social ecological model provided the conceptual framework for this study. Previously identified HIV+/ARV+ donors were invited to complete a survey (including a validated stigma scale) and qualitative interview, which underwent inductive and deductive thematic analysis. RESULTS We uncovered two primary motivational paths to HIV+/ARV+ blood donations: privacy and altruism. The latter included a motivation not previously reported in the literature: donating specifically for other people living with HIV (PLWH). The other primary factor was a lack of privacy. These accounts often included donors encountering donation opportunities when accompanied by people to whom they had not and did not plan to disclose their HIV status. Most were highly confident their donations would be identified as HIV-positive and discarded. CONCLUSION We demonstrated a complex interaction between individual, social, cultural, and structural/policy factors in blood donations by PLWH who take ARV. Recommendations to limit HIV + ARV+ donations include: (1) Targeted communication strategies to increase knowledge among PLWH of their deferral from blood donation-without increasing stigma, and (2) development of procedures to assist those who feel unable to opt-out of donation due to privacy concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin van den Berg
- Medical Division, South African National Blood Service, Roodepoort, South Africa
- Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Clinical Haematology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Edward L Murphy
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Epidemiology/Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Vernon J Louw
- Division of Clinical Haematology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gary Maartens
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shana D Hughes
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
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Gahan L, Seed CR, Hammoud MA, Prestage G, Hoad VC, Kaldor JM. Perceived risk of HIV transmission by blood transfusion among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Australia. Transfusion 2023; 63:1528-1537. [PMID: 37300281 PMCID: PMC10953370 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Australia, men who have sex with men (MSM) are deferred from blood donation for 3 months from last sexual contact. Internationally, deferral policies for MSM are evolving in the direction of expanded inclusivity in response to community expectations. To inform future policy options, we assessed perceptions of the risk of HIV transmission from blood transfusion among Australian MSM. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Flux is an online prospective cohort of Australian gay and bisexual men (cis or trans, regardless of their sexual history) and other men who have had sex with men (gbMSM). We included questions on blood donation rules, window period (WP) duration, infectivity of blood from people with HIV on treatment and attitudes to more detailed questioning of sexual practices in the regular survey of Flux participants and conducted a descriptive analysis of responses. RESULTS Of 716 Flux participants in 2019, 703 responded to the blood donation questions. The mean age was 43.7 years (SD 13.6 years). Overall, 74% were willing to confidentially respond to specific sexual behavior questions, such as the last time they had sex and the type of sex they had, in order to be considered eligible to donate blood. The majority (92%) of participants correctly assessed the duration of the WP as less than 1 month. When asked whether transfusion of blood from a donor with HIV and an undetectable viral load could transmit HIV, just under half (48%) correctly said yes. CONCLUSION Our study suggests Australian gbMSM are generally comfortable with answering more detailed questions regarding sexual activity during the assessment to donate, indicating they would do so honestly. gbMSM are knowledgeable about the WP duration, important for their ability to correctly self-assess their HIV risk. However, half of participants incorrectly assessed the transmissibility by blood transfusion from an HIV positive person with an undetectable viral load, suggesting the need for a targeted education campaign.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Gahan
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Clive R. Seed
- Australian Red Cross LifebloodMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Mohamed A. Hammoud
- Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Garrett Prestage
- Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - John M. Kaldor
- Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Recently Acquired Blood-borne Virus Infections in Australian Deceased Organ Donors: Estimation of the Residual Risk of Unexpected Transmission. Transplant Direct 2023; 9:e1447. [PMID: 36845855 PMCID: PMC9944344 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Unexpected donor-derived infections of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV are rare but important potential complications of deceased organ transplantation. The prevalence of recently acquired (yield) infections has not been previously described in a national cohort of Australian deceased organ donors. Donor yield infections are of particularly significance, as they can be used to gain insights in the incidence of disease in the donor pool and in turn, estimate the risk of unexpected disease transmission to recipients. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who commenced workup for donation in Australia between 2014 and 2020. Yield cases were defined by having both unreactive serological screening for current or previous infection and reactive nucleic acid testing screening on initial and repeat testing. Incidence was calculated using a yield window estimate and residual risk using the incidence/window period model. Results The review identified only a single yield infection of HBV in 3724 persons who commenced donation workup. There were no yield cases of HIV or HCV. There were no yield infections in donors with increased viral risk behaviors. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV was 0.06% (0.01-0.22), 0.00% (0-0.11), and 0.00% (0-0.11), respectively. The residual risk of HBV was estimated to be 0.021% (0.001-0.119). Conclusions The prevalence of recently acquired HBV, HCV, and HIV in Australians who commence workup for deceased donation is low. This novel application of yield-case-methodology has produced estimates of unexpected disease transmission which are modest, particularly when contrasted with local average waitlist mortality. Supplemental Visual Abstract; http://links.lww.com/TXD/A503.
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Caffrey N, Goldman M, Lewin A, Grégoire Y, Yi QL, O'Brien SF. Removing the men who have sex with men blood donation deferral: Informing risk models using Canadian public health surveillance data. Transfus Clin Biol 2022; 29:198-204. [PMID: 35987531 DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) were ineligible to donate blood in most countries since the 1980's. In Canada the deferral period has been incrementally decreased from lifetime to male-to-male sex in the last 3 months. Now a few countries have removed the deferral altogether. Risk models have been utilised to estimate the probability of an HIV positive donation being released into the blood supply and to inform incremental changes to the length of the deferral period. Here we use public health data to estimate the risk of HIV if the gbMSM deferral criteria were removed in Canada. MATERIAL AND METHODS We calculate the risk reduction among heterosexuals based on responses to standard risk questions routinely asked of donors. We assume gbMSM will donate at the same rate as heterosexual males. We apply the same risk reduction principle to HIV incidence and prevalence among gbMSM in the general population to evaluate the HIV risk without gbMSM time deferral. We model three scenarios where risk reduction is varied by assumptions about incidence and compliance with deferral criteria. RESULTS The estimates for all scenarios were not significantly different to the currently observed scenario which predicts a residual risk of 0.02 HIV positive per million donations (95% CI: 0.000006-0.09). CONCLUSION The models predict that removing the gbMSM deferral criteria would result in HIV residual risk similar to currently observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Caffrey
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, K1G 4J5 Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - M Goldman
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, K1G 4J5 Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - A Lewin
- Medical Affairs & Innovation, Héma-Québec 4045, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, H4R 2W7 Saint-Laurent, QC, Canada.
| | - Y Grégoire
- Medical Affairs & Innovation, Héma-Québec 4045, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, H4R 2W7 Saint-Laurent, QC, Canada.
| | - Q-L Yi
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, K1G 4J5 Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - S F O'Brien
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, K1G 4J5 Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, K1G 5Z3 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Dutch MJ, Patrick CJ, Boan PA, Knott JC, Opdam HI. Prevalence of Blood-Borne Viruses and Predictors of Risk in Potential Organ Donors in Australia. Transpl Int 2022; 35:10395. [PMID: 35592445 PMCID: PMC9110643 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Internationally, the designation of a patient as an increased viral risk organ donor has been associated with lower utilisation rates. The actual prevalence of blood borne viruses in Australian potential organ donors, and the predictive performance of questionnaires administered to stratify this risk, remains unknown. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who commenced workup for donation on the national database between 2014-2020. The prevalence of HIV, Active HBV and Active HCV in 3650 potential organ donors was 0.16%, 0.9%, and 2.2%, respectively. The behavioural risk profile was assessed in a subset of 3633 patients. Next-of-kin reported increased risk behaviours were associated with an increased prevalence of HCV but not of HIV or HBV (OR 13.8, p < 0.01, OR 0.3. p = 0.42, OR 1.5, p = 0.14). Furthermore, the majority of HIV and HBV infections occurred in potential donors without a disclosed history of increased risk behaviours. In this series, donors had a higher prevalence of HCV, and similar rates of HBV and HIV to the broader community. Behavioural transmission risks were poorly predictive of HIV and HBV. Rather than pre-transplantation behavioural risk screening, routine post-transplant recipient screening may provide a more powerful tool in mitigating the consequences of unexpected viral transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J. Dutch
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- DonateLife (Victoria), Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cameron J. Patrick
- Statistical Consultancy Unit, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter A. Boan
- Microbiology Department, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Infectious Disease, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jonathan C. Knott
- Department of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Emergency Department, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Helen I. Opdam
- Intensive Care Unit, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Organ and Tissue Authority, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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10
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Lewin A, Grégoire Y, Delage G, Thibeault C, Viau C, Milot C, Parent É, Renaud C. Reported non-compliance with pre-donation screening among blood donors in Québec, Canada: A focus on the 3-month deferral for men who have sex with men. Vox Sang 2022; 117:966-970. [PMID: 35377497 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In Québec (Canada), the donation deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) has recently been shortened to 3 months. Whether this change impacted compliance with pre-donation screening is unknown. We assessed compliance with the disclosure of male-to-male sex and other behavioural risk factors for HIV amid this change. MATERIALS AND METHODS Québec residents who donated from 14 July 2020 to 30 November 2020 were invited to participate in an online survey. Donors were informed that the survey was optional and anonymous. Survey questions were those used for routine pre-donation screening. Rates of reported non-compliance were weighted based on several characteristics. RESULTS Of 21,918 contacted donors, 7113 (32.45%) participated. Among male participants (N = 3347), six (0.27% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09%-0.44%]) were not compliant with a 3-month MSM deferral. Among female participants (N = 3766), two (0.06% [95% CI = 0.00%-0.13%]) were not compliant with a 3-month deferral for sex with a man who had male-to-male sex ≤12 months. Other risk factors exhibited similar or lower rates of reported non-compliance. CONCLUSION Reported non-compliance with a 3-month MSM deferral and the disclosure of other HIV behavioural risk factors was low. These results warrant the investigation of behavioural donor risk assessment approaches to further improve the inclusiveness of blood donation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lewin
- Héma-Québec, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Yves Grégoire
- Héma-Québec, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Gilles Delage
- Héma-Québec, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Éric Parent
- Héma-Québec, Regulatory Affairs, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Héma-Québec, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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11
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Haw J, Woo H, Kohut T, Fisher W. Sexual risk behavior questions: Understanding and mitigating donor discomfort. Transfusion 2022; 62:355-364. [PMID: 34877677 PMCID: PMC9542493 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood operators are working to improve donor screening and eligibility for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), and trans and nonbinary donors. Many consider screening all donors for specific sexual risk behaviors to be a more equitable approach that maintains the safety of the blood supply. Feasibility considerations with this change include ensuring donor understanding of additional sexual behavior questions and minimizing donor loss due to discomfort. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Qualitative one-on-one interviews were conducted with Canadian whole blood and plasma donors (N = 40). A thematic analysis was conducted to assess participants' understandings of the questions, examine their comfort/discomfort, and identify strategies to mitigate donor discomfort. RESULTS All participants understood what the sexual behavior questions were asking and thought the questions were appropriate. Themes related to comfort/discomfort include: their expectations of donor screening, social norms that they bring to donation, whether their answer felt like personal disclosure, knowing the reasons for the question, trusting confidentiality, confidence in knowing their sexual partner's behavior, and potential for the question to be discriminatory. Strategies to mitigate discomfort include: providing an explanation for the questions, forewarning donors of these questions, reducing ambiguity, and using a self-administered questionnaire. CONCLUSION While many blood operators and regulators view the move to sexual behavior-based screening for all donors as a significant paradigmatic shift, donors may not perceive additional sexual behavior questions as a significant change to their donation experience. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate donor discomfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Haw
- Donation Policy and Studies GroupCanadian Blood ServicesOttawaOntarioCanada
- Department of Health SciencesCarleton UniversityOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Hyunjin Woo
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and EvaluationUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Taylor Kohut
- Department of PsychologyWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
| | - William Fisher
- Department of Psychology and Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
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12
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Caffrey N, Goldman M, Osmond L, Yi QL, Fan W, O'Brien SF. HIV incidence and compliance with deferral criteria over three progressively shorter time deferrals for men who have sex with men in Canada. Transfusion 2021; 62:125-134. [PMID: 34854092 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Canada, the deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) has been progressively reduced from a permanent deferral for MSM since 1977, to 5 years, 1 year, and, most recently, 3 months. We estimated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) residual risk and compliance with the MSM time deferral after each change. METHODS Four anonymous online compliance surveys were carried out before and after each change. HIV incidence and prevalence were monitored from 2010 to 2021. Residual risk was estimated using the incidence-window period model. RESULTS Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence, incidence, and residual risk did not change with incrementally shorter MSM deferrals. The residual risk per million donations post 3-month deferral was 0.05 (0.001-0.371). Men with temporally remote MSM history became eligible and, therefore, compliant as the deferral periods decreased (Cochran-Armitage p value = <.0001). However, the percentage of men with MSM history in the last 3 months with the indefinite deferral in place was similar to the percentage noncompliant, while the 3-month deferral was in place. MSM donors did not report high-risk behaviors for which they would otherwise be deferred in any survey. Following the change, an estimated 4467 MSM per year were eligible to donate, an increase from 2501 estimated eligible MSM donors following the change to the 1-year deferral. CONCLUSION With progressively shorter MSM deferral periods, HIV residual risk was unchanged. The proportion of male donors with deferrable MSM history remained low, while those with temporally remote MSM history became eligible, increasing the number of eligible MSM donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niamh Caffrey
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lori Osmond
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Qi-Long Yi
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Wenli Fan
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Donation Policy & Studies, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 4J5, Canada.,School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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13
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HIV antiretroviral therapy and prevention use in US blood donors: a new blood safety concern. Blood 2021; 136:1351-1358. [PMID: 32645148 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020006890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection are effective tools to help end the HIV epidemic. However, their use could affect HIV transfusion-transmission risk. Three different ART/PrEP prevalence analyses in blood donors were conducted. First, blood samples from HIV-positive and a comparison group of infection-nonreactive donors were tested under blind using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for ART. Second, blood donor samples from infection-nonreactive, 18- to 45-year-old, male, first-time blood donors in 6 US locations were tested for emtricitabine and tenofovir. Third, in men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in the 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) from 5 US cities, self-reported PrEP use proximate to donation was assessed. In blind testing, no ART was detected in 300 infection-nonreactive donor samples, but in 299 HIV confirmed-infected donor samples, 46 (15.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5% to 20.0%) had evidence of ART. Of the 1494 samples tested from first-time male donors, 9 (0.6%; 95% CI, 0.03% to 1.1%) had tenofovir and emtricitabine. In the NHBS MSM survey, 27 of 591 respondents (4.8%; 95% CI, 3.2% to 6.9%) reported donating blood in 2016 or 2017 and PrEP use within the same time frame as blood donation. Persons who are HIV positive and taking ART and persons taking PrEP to prevent HIV infection are donating blood. Both situations could lead to increased risk of HIV transfusion transmission if blood screening assays are unable to detect HIV in donations from infected donors.
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14
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O'Brien SF, Goldman M, Robillard P, Osmond L, Myhal G, Roy É. Donor screening question alternatives to men who have sex with men time deferral: Potential impact on donor deferral and discomfort. Transfusion 2020; 61:94-101. [PMID: 33616949 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternative screening questions could permit low-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) to donate blood without a time deferral. We performed a study to determine the proportion of current donors who may be deferred by various questions and their comfort with them. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Donors attending collection sites in Canada in January and February 2018 were offered one of two questionnaires but not both. Questionnaire 1 asked about risk behaviors; Questionnaire 2 rated comfort with the questions. Volunteers uncomfortable with questions participated in short qualitative telephone interviews to understand reasons. Quantitative data were analyzed using χ2 statistics. RESULTS Of 36 241 donors attending, 31 904 (88%, Period 1) completed Questionnaire 1; of 34 947, a total of 30 278 (87%, Period 2) completed Questionnaire 2; 294 completed an interview. In the past 3 months 3.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1%-3.6%) had more than one partner; 6.0% (95% CI, 5.7%-6.2%) had a new partner; 6.7% (95% CI, 6.4%-6.9%) were in a nonexclusive relationship; 11.2% (95% CI, 10.9%-11.6%) had at least one of these; 3.7% (95% CI, 3.4%-3.9%) had anal sex; and 62.8% (95% CI, 62.2%-63.3%) had condomless sex. More than 6% were uncomfortable with each question, but more (17.2%; 95% CI, 16.8%-17.7%) were uncomfortable with anal sex. Key reasons for discomfort were questions being too personal and unclear safety benefit. CONCLUSION Most donors are comfortable answering alternative questions (except very personal ones) but question the benefit. Implementing alternative questions would result in substantive deferrals. Other policies such as using an MSM capture question to ask additional questions only to MSM should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lori Osmond
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Élise Roy
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sherbrooke University, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
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15
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Custer B, Hughes SD. Donor compliance research: what are you thinking? Transfusion 2020; 60:1-3. [PMID: 31898351 DOI: 10.1111/trf.15646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Custer
- Epidemiology and Health Policy Science, Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California
| | - Shana D Hughes
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California
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16
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OʼBrien SF. Donor education – times change and we with time. Transfusion 2020; 60:1649-1652. [DOI: 10.1111/trf.15977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F. OʼBrien
- Epidemiology and SurveillanceCanadian Blood Services Ottawa ON Canada
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17
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Reynolds CA, Davison KL, Andrews N, Brailsford SR. What are blood donors telling us about injecting drug use? Vox Sang 2020; 115:637-646. [PMID: 32702174 DOI: 10.1111/vox.12976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Injecting drug use (IDU), a permanent deferral for blood donors, was included in a review of donor selection criteria completed in 2017. Here, we describe what is known about IDU in blood donors in the United Kingdom (UK). MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were obtained from routine surveillance of donation testing and confirmed positive donors and a 2013/2014 UK survey of behaviour and compliance in screen-negative donors. RESULTS Between 2009 and 2018, of 22 UK million donations screened, IDU was self-reported at the post-test discussion in 5% (86/1777) of donors with confirmed positive donations. Recent injecting within 12 months was reported in 8 HCV-positive donors, but only in 1/14 donors where it was clear HCV infection had been acquired in the previous 12 months. Of 65 439 survey responders, 25 reported IDU, which when weighted to the donor population gave 99·95% compliance. Most of the 111 donors reporting IDU felt it was not important to their donation, mainly because their injecting was in the past, while three HCV-positive recent injectors reported not sharing needles so presumably felt safe to donate. CONCLUSION Compliance with the permanent deferral appeared extremely high with low levels of injecting reported by donors, mainly in the past. This agreed with the low-incident HCV infection observed in UK donors. These data contributed to a recommendation to reduce the deferral to 1 year. Ways of improving compliance in those few donors at current increased risk of infection need to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A Reynolds
- NHS Blood and Transplant/Public Health England Epidemiology Unit, NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
| | - Katy L Davison
- NHS Blood and Transplant/Public Health England Epidemiology Unit, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Nick Andrews
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Susan R Brailsford
- NHS Blood and Transplant/Public Health England Epidemiology Unit, NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
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18
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Cutts JC, Quinn B, Seed CR, Kotsiou G, Pearson R, Scott N, Wilson DP, Harrod ME, Maher L, Caris S, Thompson AJ, Farrell M, Pink J, Hellard ME. A Systematic Review of Interventions Used to Increase Blood Donor Compliance with Deferral Criteria. Transfus Med Hemother 2020; 48:118-129. [PMID: 33976612 DOI: 10.1159/000509027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Pre-donation screening of potential blood donors is critical for ensuring the safety of the donor blood supply, and donor deferral as a result of risk factors is practised worldwide. This systematic review was conducted in the context of an expert review convened by the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood in 2013 to consider Lifeblood's injecting drug use (IDU)-related policies and aimed to identify studies assessing interventions to improve compliance with deferral criteria in blood donation settings. Materials and Methods MEDLINE/PubMed, OVID Medline, OVID Embase, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and DARE) databases were searched for studies conducted within blood donation settings that examined interventions to increase blood donor compliance with deferral criteria. Observational and experimental studies from all geographical areas were considered. Results Ten studies were identified that tested at least one intervention to improve blood donor compliance with deferral criteria, including computerized interviews or questionnaires, direct and indirect oral questioning, educational materials, and a combination of a tickbox questionnaire and a personal donor interview. High-quality evidence from a single study was provided for the effectiveness of a computerized interview in improving detection of HIV risk behaviour. Low-quality evidence for the effectiveness of computerized interviews was provided by 3 additional studies. Two studies reported a moderate effect of direct questioning in increasing donor deferral, but the quality of the evidence was low. Conclusion This review identified several interventions to improve donor compliance that have been tested in blood donation settings and provided evidence for the effectiveness of computerized interviews in improving detection of risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brendan Quinn
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Clive R Seed
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - George Kotsiou
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ruth Pearson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nick Scott
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Mary Ellen Harrod
- NSW Users and AIDS Association, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lisa Maher
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sharon Caris
- Haemophilia Foundation Australia, Malvern East, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex J Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital and the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Farrell
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joanne Pink
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Margaret E Hellard
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Doherty Institute and School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Wehrli G, Rossmann SN, Waxman DA, Katz LM. Evaluation and improvement of blood donor educational materials: results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Transfusion 2020; 60:1756-1764. [PMID: 32562440 DOI: 10.1111/trf.15866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood collection centers are charged with creating donor educational materials (DnEM) that are easily understood across all prospective donor populations, while addressing mandates and recommendations from regulatory agencies and professional standard setting organizations. Donors must have sufficient information to understand the donation process with its risks and benefits, time to consider options before deciding, and opportunity to choose whether to proceed with or decline donating. The goal of this multisite randomized controlled trial was to evaluate knowledge acquired using standardized DnEM. America's Blood Centers' Working Group (WG) for Donor Education and Communication was formed to evaluate and suggest modifications of these documents. Based on pilot work, a randomized clinical trial was designed to test donor knowledge across a variety of populations. The WG identified several shortcomings in the current DnEM and proposed new DnEM. The new DnEM were tested against the same, current DnEM being used at all three sites (Blood Donor Educational Material, 2016 version 2.0, published in conjunction with the AABB uniform donor history questionnaire). METHODS AND MATERIALS One-hundred sixty-five first time and returning donors were randomized in a 2x2 model to review either new DnEM or current DnEM. Every participant completed a pre- and post-quiz that tested their understanding of the DnEM. RESULTS Returning donors had greater baseline knowledge compared to new donors, but new donors improved more versus returning donors. Donors using the new DnEM showed greater improvement in knowledge than those using current DnEM. CONCLUSION Comprehension of DnEM can be improved. With this sample size the results suggest that the findings are independent of demographic characteristics, but a larger study would be necessary to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gay Wehrli
- University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | - Louis M Katz
- Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Davenport, Iowa, USA
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20
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O'Brien SF, Grégoire Y, Pillonel J, Steele WR, Custer B, Davison KL, Germain M, Lewin A, Seed CR. HIV residual risk in Canada under a three-month deferral for men who have sex with men. Vox Sang 2019; 115:133-139. [PMID: 31777098 DOI: 10.1111/vox.12867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In Canada, the deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) was decreased from a permanent deferral to a 5-year then a 12-month deferral. Current HIV testing can detect an HIV infection in donated blood within 2 weeks of exposure; thus, a 12-month deferral may be unnecessarily restrictive. We aimed to estimate the residual risk of HIV if the deferral were further decreased to 3 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a deterministic model with stochastic Monte Carlo simulation, residual risk of HIV was the sum of testing error, assay sensitivity and window-period risks. Data inputs were estimated from donor surveillance, donor surveys and published data. Residual risk was modelled at baseline and using three scenarios: (1) most likely - non-compliance, HIV prevalence and incidence rates of MSM are unchanged; (2) optimistic - non-compliance improves by 50%; and (3) pessimistic - non-compliance, HIV prevalence and incidence rates of MSM all double. RESULTS HIV residual risk at baseline was 1 in 36·0 million donations (95% CI 1 in 1 504 907 million, 10·5 million); in the most likely scenario 1 in 34·2 million (1 in 225 534 million, 8·7 million); in the optimistic scenario 1 in 36·0 million (1 in 282 618 million, 9·5 million); in the pessimistic scenario 1 in 16·7 million (1 in 39 469 million, 6·0 million). All confidence intervals overlapped. CONCLUSION With very low modelled risk under a 12-month deferral, the additional risk with a 3-month deferral is very low. This is true even with a pessimistic scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Yves Grégoire
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Hema-Quebec, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Josiane Pillonel
- Direction des Maladies Infectieuses, Sante Publique France, St Maurice, France
| | - Whitney R Steele
- Transmissible Disease Department, American Red Cross, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Brian Custer
- Epidemiology and Health Science, Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katy L Davison
- Immunisation, Hepatitis & Blood Safety, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
| | - Marc Germain
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Hema-Quebec, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Hema-Quebec, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Clive R Seed
- Donor and Product Safety (DAPS) Policy Unit, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Perth, WA, Australia
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21
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Gosbell IB, Hoad VC, Styles CE, Lee J, Seed CR. Undetectable does not equal untransmittable for
HIV
and blood transfusion. Vox Sang 2019; 114:628-630. [DOI: 10.1111/vox.12790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Iain B. Gosbell
- Clinical Services and Research Australian Red Cross Blood Service Sydney NSW Australia
- School of Medicine Western Sydney University Penrith NSW Australia
| | - Veronica C. Hoad
- Clinical Services and Research Australian Red Cross Blood Service Perth WA Australia
| | - Claire E. Styles
- Clinical Services and Research Australian Red Cross Blood Service Perth WA Australia
| | - June Lee
- Clinical Services and Research Australian Red Cross Blood Service Perth WA Australia
| | - Clive R. Seed
- Clinical Services and Research Australian Red Cross Blood Service Perth WA Australia
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22
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O'Brien SF, Osmond L, Fan W, Yi QL, Goldman M. Compliance with time-based deferrals for men who have sex with men. Transfusion 2019; 59:916-920. [PMID: 30630215 DOI: 10.1111/trf.15098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) was reduced from a permanent deferral for MSM if even one time since 1977 to progressively shorter time deferrals of 5 years and 1 year in Canada. We assessed compliance with these deferrals and the impact on safety at Canadian Blood Services. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Three anonymous online compliance surveys of male whole blood donors were carried out before and after implementation of successive changes. HIV rates and incidence were monitored from January 1, 2011, to August 14, 2018. RESULTS Participation rates in the consecutive surveys were 49.7% before implementation, 36.3% after 5 years and 36.3% after 1 year. There was no difference before versus after implementation in male donors with MSM history in the past year (0.21%, 0.19%, 0.24%; p = 0.70). The percentage of eligible MSM donors increased (0.13%, 0.66%, 1.21%; p < 0.0001), with approximately 2500 eligible MSM donors with the 1-year deferral in place. HIV rates were less than 0.6 per 100,000 donations and unchanged after each policy change (p = 0.14 for trend). Incidence remained unchanged at 0.22 per 100,000 person-years before implementation, 0.54 per 100,000 after 5-year deferral, and no incident cases after 1-year deferral (p = 0.55). CONCLUSION Progressively shorter time deferrals had no impact on noncompliance of MSM with a male partner in the past year. Contrary to modeling predictions, shorter time deferrals had no impact on HIV rates or incidence. There was a modest increase in eligible MSM in the donor pool after each shorter time deferral. These results support the safety of reducing deferral periods for MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Epidemiology Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lori Osmond
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wenli Fan
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Qi-Long Yi
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Epidemiology Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Wentz AE, Merchant RC, Clark MA, Liu T, Rosenberger JG, Bauermeister JA, Mayer KH. Blood Donation, Sexual Practices, and Self-Perceived Risk for HIV in the United States Among Young Adult Men Who Have Sex With Men. Public Health Rep 2018; 134:36-46. [PMID: 30526313 PMCID: PMC6304728 DOI: 10.1177/0033354918815182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the United States, all men who have sex with men (MSM) were banned from donating blood from 1985 through 2015. In 2016, the guideline was amended such that men who had sexual contact with other men within the previous 12 months could not donate blood. We aimed to identify blood donation practices and their relationship with HIV risk and testing among young adult MSM (YMSM) at risk for having HIV. METHODS In 2014, we recruited HIV-negative non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white YMSM aged 18-24 from across the United States through social media platforms to complete an online survey. Among these YMSM who previously donated blood, we conducted a secondary analysis examining the relationship between having donated blood within the past 12 months and sexual risk behavior from recent condomless anal intercourse (CAI), HIV testing, and self-perceived risk of having an undiagnosed HIV infection. RESULTS Of the 2261 YMSM surveyed, 1104 (48.8%) had ever previously donated blood and 305 (13.5%) had donated blood within the past 12 months. Of the 305 blood donors, 50 (16.4%) had ever had CAI before their most recent blood donation. Among YMSM who donated blood, past-12-month blood donation was more likely among YMSM who never had CAI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.73) than among YMSM who had CAI and more likely among YMSM who believed it was not possible at all that they had an undiagnosed HIV infection (aOR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.14-2.16) than among YMSM who believed there was any possibility of having an undiagnosed HIV infection; it was not related to past-12-month HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS YMSM donated blood frequently, suggesting that the deferral process in place did not prevent YMSM from donating blood. The current donor screening process should be reconsidered if it is to prevent YMSM from donating blood. Future research could identify screening questions that permit YMSM with a low risk of HIV infection to donate blood while maintaining the safety of the blood supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E. Wentz
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University,
Providence, RI, USA
| | - Roland C. Merchant
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University,
Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA,
USA
| | - Melissa A. Clark
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences and Center for Health Policy and
Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Center for Statistical Sciences, School of
Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - José A. Bauermeister
- Department of Family and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth H. Mayer
- Fenway Health, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Hughes SD, Custer B, Laborde N, Sheon N. Transition to a 1-year deferral for male blood donors who report sexual contact with men: staff perspectives at one blood collection organization. Transfusion 2018; 58:1909-1915. [PMID: 29664123 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Front-line staff at blood collection organizations (BCOs) play important roles in keeping the blood supply safe, yet research on their professional practice and perspectives on training needs is sparse. This qualitative study explored these topics with regard to the then-impending change in donor eligibility for men reporting sex with another man (MSM). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Semistructured, individual interviews with BCO staff (n = 13) in Northern California covered experiences of and opinions on indefinite deferral, the revised 1-year deferral, and anticipated potential challenges arising from the new policy. Transcripts were thematically coded, using deductive and inductive approaches. Analysis identified recurrent and divergent themes. RESULTS Interviewees reported strong values of professionalism and respect for donors and supported the change to a 1-year deferral for MSM donors. Nonetheless, nearly all voiced the need for more in-depth training to maximize the likelihood of successful implementation. Specific recommendations included the use of role-play, provision of science-based talking points or FAQs, and empathy for donors and staff. CONCLUSION More than the usual training may be required to help BCO staff feel prepared to educate the public about changes to MSM-related deferrals and communicate effectively with donors about potentially deferrable behavior. Overall, these findings suggest that before future policy changes, BCO staff's opinions about and role in implementing new donor eligibility screening procedures merit consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana D Hughes
- Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Brian Custer
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, California.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Nicolas Sheon
- Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, California
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25
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The review summarizes recent publications on the contentious issue of donor deferral criterion for men who have sex with men (MSM). RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies from the United States and China demonstrated that MSM is still a frequent risk factor for HIV-positive donors. Noncompliance is an important factor in the overall risk of HIV transmission but does not appear to be affected by the length of the deferral period. A major US study found a 2.6% noncompliance rate with the current indefinite deferral for MSM; similar or lower rates were found in other jurisdictions with shorter deferral periods. Several countries have had a defined deferral period of 1 year or 5 years in place long enough to determine that increases in HIV-positive cases predicted by modeling studies did not actually occur, suggesting that the assumptions made in these models are overly conservative. SUMMARY In summary, MSM eligibility policies are slowly changing around the world, with the US FDA now permitting a 1-year deferral. Transparency, involvement of stakeholders, and careful evaluation of risk and societal benefit should be part of future policy discussions on this issue.
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26
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Öhrner C, Kvist M. How do blood donors interpret the Swedish donor history questionnaire? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/voxs.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Öhrner
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine; Stockholm Blood Bank; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
| | - M. Kvist
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine; Stockholm Blood Bank; Karolinska University Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
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27
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Offergeld R, Heiden M. Selecting the Right Donors - Still a Challenge: Development of a Uniform Donor Questionnaire in Germany. Transfus Med Hemother 2017; 44:255-262. [PMID: 28924430 DOI: 10.1159/000479193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The selection of blood donors includes the assessment of the individual's health and medical history by using a donor questionnaire (DQ) in order to identify persons whose donation could present a health risk to recipients or to themselves. This way, DQs provide one layer of blood safety and contribute to the high safety profile of blood components currently available in Germany. This review reports the development of a new uniform questionnaire in Germany and its first evaluation using a field test approach. This development is set in context with the international experiences regarding donor selection and prospective challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Offergeld
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Margarethe Heiden
- Department for Transfusion Medicine, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
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28
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Houareau C, Deitenbeck R, Sümnig A, Moeller A, Saadé C, Stötzer F, Heiden M, Northoff H, Offergeld R. Good Feasibility of the New German Blood Donor Questionnaire. Transfus Med Hemother 2017; 44:232-239. [PMID: 28924428 DOI: 10.1159/000477942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We assessed the effect of the uniform donor questionnaire (UDQ) on deferral rates in first-time and repeat donors. We focused on the introduced question about unprotected sexual contact with a new partner. Another goal was a stratified comparison of the deferral rates of the donor questionnaire (DQ) and UDQ. METHODS Data on donors and deferrals using the DQ and UDQ were collected at four blood establishments. The comparison included a 2-year period by questionnaire version. For the comparison of the questionnaires, an adjusted multinomial logistic regression was performed. RESULTS The analysis included 260,848 donations. First-time (FTD) and repeat donations (RD) showed higher deferral rates with the UDQ (FTD +5.4%, RD +1.4%). Deferral due to a new partner was 3.0% in first-time and 0.4% in repeat donors. The majority of these occurred in the youngest age groups. The most frequent deferral criterion was 'disease' (5.1%). CONCLUSION The regression revealed stronger predictors for deferral than the questionnaire version. Especially younger age carried a higher and independent risk for deferral. The additional deferrals of mainly young first-time donors due to a new sexual partner may identify those donors with potential heterosexual risk behavior who would otherwise not be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Houareau
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ariane Sümnig
- Institute for Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anette Moeller
- Institute for Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Christiane Saadé
- Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Transfusion Medicine and Microbiology, Helios Clinic, Pforzheim, Germany
| | - Frank Stötzer
- German Red Cross Blood Donation Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Margarethe Heiden
- Department for Transfusion Medicine, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Hinnak Northoff
- Center for Clinical Transfusion Medicine, ZKT, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ruth Offergeld
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Duquesnoy A, Danic B, Santos A, Martinaud C, Woimant G, Laperche S, Tiberghien P, Jauffret-Roustide M, Pillonel J. Context and social perceptions of blood donation in donors found positive for human immunodeficiency virus in France. Transfusion 2017; 57:2240-2247. [PMID: 28671313 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In France, information collected during postdonation interviews showed that a majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected donors were not eligible to donate as per donor selection criteria. In the interest of blood safety, this study aimed to explore the mechanisms of noncompliance with blood donor selection criteria, notably the permanent deferral of men who have sex with men (MSM). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Semistructured individual interviews were conducted with 32 blood donors found positive for HIV between mid-2011 and 2014. Topics such as the experience and motivations for donating blood, understanding of selection criteria, sexual risk management, and opinions on donor selection were discussed. Transcripts were analyzed inductively. RESULTS More than 50% of study participants were noncompliant with donor selection criteria. Reasons for nondisclosure of risk factors in the predonation questionnaire or the predonation interview included stigma, test-seeking motivations, symbolic attachment to blood donation, and context of donation. Compliance to donor criteria was seen as secondary by donors who reaped personal benefits from the symbolism of their donation. Donors lacked self-reflexivity in their assessment of risky sexual behavior. The "window period" and the underlying epidemiologic arguments for donor selection criteria were poorly understood. Nearly all participants disapproved of the permanent ban on blood donations from MSM. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the need for more communication on the epidemiologic basis for donor selection criteria and on the window period to facilitate donor compliance. These findings have already advanced improvements to predonation documents, in a larger context of 2016 donor selection criteria revision.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Danic
- Etablissement Français du Sang, Saint Denis, France
| | - Aurélie Santos
- Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Syria Laperche
- Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France
| | | | - Marie Jauffret-Roustide
- Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France.,Cermes3 (Inserm U988/CNRS UMR8211/EHESS/Université Paris Descartes), Paris, France
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30
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Czerwinski M, Grabarczyk P, Stepien M, Kubicka-Russel D, Tkaczuk K, Brojer E, Rosinska M. What weighs more-low compliance with self-deferral or minor medical procedures? Explaining the high rate of hepatitis C virus window-period donations in Poland. Transfusion 2017; 57:1998-2006. [PMID: 28555775 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the introduction of nucleic acid testing (NAT) for routine blood donor screening, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-only detection rates reported from Poland have been higher than in most other European countries. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS To examine factors that likely contribute to these window-period donations, we conducted a case-control study among 47 recently HCV-infected blood donors (cases), who gave blood between July 2002 and June 2014, and 141 controls matched by age, sex, and donation dates. Firth-corrected, conditional logistic regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Adjusted population-attributable fractions were calculated based on the distribution of exposure among the cases. RESULTS On multivariate analysis, recent exposures in health care environments not routinely ascertained through predonation questionnaires were strongly associated with recently acquired HCV infection. These exposures included minor medical and dental procedures in the preceding 6 months (adjusted odds ratio, 5.77; 95 % confidence interval, 2.01-18.53). However, based on the population-attributable fraction, more important were behavioral deferrable risks that went unreported at the time of donation, such as high-risk sexual behaviors in the preceding 6 months (population-attributable fraction, 34%) or lifetime histories of drug use (population-attributable fraction, 28%). CONCLUSIONS This study raises questions about the effectiveness of deferral policy in excluding high-risk individuals. In addition, it provides further evidence supporting short, temporal deferrals for small medical procedures and dental treatments in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Czerwinski
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Grabarczyk
- Department of Virology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Stepien
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Kubicka-Russel
- Department of Virology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Tkaczuk
- Department of Virology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Brojer
- Department of Virology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rosinska
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
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31
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Seed CR, Yang H, Lee JF. Blood safety implications of donors using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Vox Sang 2017; 112:473-476. [PMID: 28370177 DOI: 10.1111/vox.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is the use of one or more antiretroviral medications (in combination) to prevent HIV infection. The most commonly used PrEP medication (Truvada® , Gilead Sciences, Inc.) acts by inhibiting HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. If someone who is using PrEP unknowingly becomes HIV infected (termed 'PrEP breakthrough infection'), there may be suppressed viral replication resulting in a virus level undetectable by the most sensitive HIV NAT. Failure to seroconvert and seroreversion (loss of previously detectable HIV antibodies) have also both been observed with 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation screening immunoassays, as well as Western blot assays. If such a person was tested in the course of donating blood, the results may therefore be difficult to interpret. The index of suspicion for possible PrEP 'interference' should be highest in the context of concomitant low-level positive or 'greyzone' reactivity on HIV NAT and serological tests, which is an unusual pattern in acutely HIV-infected blood donors. Another possibility is detectable HIV RNA with negative HIV serology (i.e. a potential 'NAT yield' case) but without subsequent HIV seroconversion (or disappearance of HIV RNA). Excluding antiretroviral therapy or PrEP use by the donor in such circumstances would be important. The current rarity of PrEP breakthrough infection indicates that any potential safety risk is likely very small. However, considering the increasing use of PrEP we feel it is prudent for those interpreting HIV donor screening test results to consider the potential for PrEP interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Seed
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - H Yang
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J F Lee
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Perth, WA, Australia
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32
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Eder AF. Knowns, unknowns, and perceptions in between. Transfusion 2016; 56:1491-5. [PMID: 27295023 DOI: 10.1111/trf.13668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne F Eder
- Blood Services Section, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
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