1
|
Quee FA, Slot E, van Leeuwen I, Brands R, Franssen EJF, Hogema BM, Zaaijer HL, van de Laar TJW. Blood safety markers in Dutch donors after relaxation of deferral for men who have sex with men: re-emergence of syphilis and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use. Transfusion 2024. [PMID: 38963400 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Less discriminatory donor selection policies for men who have sex with men (MSM) may impact transfusion safety in terms of higher residual risks for known transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), increased vulnerability toward new TTIs that are also transmitted via sex, and HIV infections masked by pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS TTI trends in Dutch donors were studied over a 13-year period (2011-2023), characterized by successive relaxations of MSM deferral criteria. Structured posttest counseling was performed to determine risk factors in TTI-positive donors. PrEP drug levels were measured in 9977 donations from male donors living in urban areas and in 67 donors with active or resolved syphilis. RESULTS HIV incidence (from 5.8 to 1.5 per 1,000,000 donor years (DY)) and HBV incidence (from 12.4 to 4.5 per 1,000,000 DY) in Dutch donors decreased with less stringent MSM deferral criteria, while syphilis prevalence (from 26.4 to 44.1 per 100,000 new donors) and syphilis incidence (from 18.3 to 46.3 per 1,000,000 DY) increased over time. The proportion of MSM-related syphilis rose from 2% to 32% in new donors and from 12% to 27% in repeat donors. PrEP was detected in 2 of 9977 (0.02%) donations from male donors living in urban areas, and in 1 of 39 (2.6%) male donors with syphilis. DISCUSSION To date, phasing out donor deferral for MSM had no significant impact on transfusion safety in the Netherlands. However, rising syphilis rates and (recent) PrEP use in the blood donor population, albeit rare, suggest an influx of donors with higher sexual risk profiles and requires intensified TTI surveillance in donors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franke A Quee
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health (APH) Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ed Slot
- Department of Medical Affairs, Sanquin Corporate Staff, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg van Leeuwen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph Brands
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric J F Franssen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Boris M Hogema
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Virology, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans L Zaaijer
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Virology, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thijs J W van de Laar
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Virology, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sayed Ahmed HA, Kamel N, Mahfouz EM. Insight into hazard and control of transfusion-transmitted infections in Egypt: A narrative review. Transfus Apher Sci 2024; 63:103965. [PMID: 38986352 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2024.103965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Blood transfusion is a critical life-saving medical intervention, but it carries the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) that can lead to serious consequences. TTIs include viral, bacterial, parasitic, and prion infections, transmitted through asymptomatic donor blood, contamination of stored blood products, or transfusion-related immunosuppression. Recognized global agents posing challenges to blood safety include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Syphilis, etc. Emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis E, and others present additional risks. The residual risk of TTIs, representing the likelihood of infected donations passing screening tests, varies globally. High-income countries generally show lower prevalence rates than low-income countries. In Egypt, the estimated prevalence rates for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis markers among the donors are 0.23 %, 0.76 %, 2.33 %, and 0.24 %, respectively. In Egypt, specific residual risk estimates are scarce, but prevalence rates for key infections highlight existing challenges. The World Health Organization promotes a global blood safety strategy, advocating for national blood systems, voluntary non-remunerated donors, and quality-assured testing. Despite these measures, the establishment of a haemovigilance system which is critical for monitoring and preventing adverse events, including TTIs, is reported as lacking in Egypt. This highlights the importance of comprehensive surveillance and safety measures in the blood donation process to ensure universal access to safe blood. Primary health care can play a pivotal role in preventing TTIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hazem A Sayed Ahmed
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Noha Kamel
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt.
| | - Eman Mohamed Mahfouz
- Department of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Custer B, Altan E, Montalvo L, Coyne A, Grebe E, Deng X, Stone M, Delwart E, Bakkour S, Hailu B, Reik R, Kessler D, Stramer SL, Busch MP. HIV Subtypes and Drug-resistance-associated Mutations in US Blood Donors, 2015-2020. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae343. [PMID: 38994445 PMCID: PMC11237352 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Monitoring genotypes of HIV infections in blood donors may provide insights into infection trends in the general population. Methods HIV RNA was extracted from plasma samples of blood donors confirmed as HIV positive by blood screening nucleic acid and antibody tests. HIV genome target regions were amplified using nested real time-polymerase chain reaction followed by next-generation sequencing. Sequences were compared to those in the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) database. Sequences were also assessed for drug resistance mutations (DRM) using the Stanford HIV DRM Database. Results From available HIV-positive donations collected between 1 September 2015 and 31 December 2020, 563 of 743 (75.8%) were successfully sequenced; 4 were subtype A, 543 subtype B, 5 subtype C, 1 subtype G, 5 circulating recombinant forms (CRF), and 2 were subtype B and D recombinants. Overall, no significant differences between blood donor and available LANL genotypes were found, and the genotypes of newly acquired versus prevalent HIV infections in donors were similar. The proportion of non-B subtypes and CRF remained a small fraction, with no other subtype or CRF representing more than 1% of the total. DRM were identified in 122 (21.6%) samples with protease inhibitor, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor DRMs identified in 4.9%, 4.6% and 14.0% of samples, respectively. Conclusions HIV genetic diversity and DRM in blood donors appear representative of circulating HIV infections in the US general population and may provide more information on infection diversity than sequences reported to LANL, particularly for recently transmitted infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eda Altan
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Alison Coyne
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eduard Grebe
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xutao Deng
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mars Stone
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eric Delwart
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sonia Bakkour
- Global Medical Affairs Donor Screening, Grifols Diagnostic Solutions, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Benyam Hailu
- Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Rita Reik
- Scientific, Medical, Technical and Research, OneBlood, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Debra Kessler
- Medical Programs and Services, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Michael P Busch
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Whitaker BI, Huang Y, Gubernot D, Eder AF, Herbenick D, Fu TC, Forshee RA, Anderson SA. Modeling US blood donor deferrals under a policy of individual risk assessment for HIV risk sexual behavior. Transfusion 2024. [PMID: 38864291 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance for blood donor eligibility that recommended the elimination of 3-month deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) and the related deferral for women who have sex with MSM. In its place, FDA introduced an individual risk assessment policy of asking all presenting blood donors, regardless of sex or gender, if they have had a new partner or more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months and deferring those who also report anal sex (penile-anal intercourse) during this period. We modeled the possible impact of this policy on the US blood donor base. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We developed a computational model to estimate the percentage of blood donors who would be deferred under a policy of individual HIV risk assessment. The model incorporated demographic information about donors and national survey data on HIV risk behaviors and included age and sex distributions and dependencies. RESULTS Our model estimates that approximately 1.2% of US blood donors would be deferred under the individual HIV risk assessment paradigm. DISCUSSION The model predicts a relatively minor effect of replacing the time-based deferral for MSM with individual risk-based deferral for sexual behavior. As US blood centers implement this new policy, the effect may be mitigated by donor gains, which warrant further study. The new policy is unlikely to adversely affect the availability of blood and blood components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbee I Whitaker
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Biostatistics and Pharmacovigilance, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Yin Huang
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Biostatistics and Pharmacovigilance, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Diane Gubernot
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Biostatistics and Pharmacovigilance, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne F Eder
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Blood Research and Review, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Debby Herbenick
- Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Tsung-Chieh Fu
- Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Richard A Forshee
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Biostatistics and Pharmacovigilance, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven A Anderson
- FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Office of Biostatistics and Pharmacovigilance, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zheng Z, Lin X, Huang Y, Zhang C, Zhang Z. Trends and age-period-cohort effect on incidence of hepatitis B from 2008 to 2022 in Guangzhou, China. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13370. [PMID: 38862511 PMCID: PMC11166960 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63796-0] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly prevalent in Guangzhou, China. This study aimed to examine the long-term trend of HB incidence from 2008 to 2022 and the independent impacts of age, period, and cohort on the trends. HBV data were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Joinpoint regression was utilized to examine temporal trends, and an age-period-cohort model was employed to estimate the effects of age, period, and cohort. A total of 327,585 HBV cases were included in this study. The incidence of chronic and acute HB showed a decreasing trend in Guangzhou over the past 15 years, with an average annual percent change of - 4.31% and - 16.87%, respectively. Age, period, and cohort all exerted significant effects. The incidence of HB was higher in males than in females and non-central areas compared to central areas. Age groups of 0-4 years and 15-24 years were identified as high-risk groups. The period relative risks for chronic HB incidence decreased initially and then stabilized. Cohorts born later had lower risks. Chronic HB incidences remain high in Guangzhou, especially among males, younger individuals, and residents of non-central areas. More efforts are still needed to achieve hepatitis elimination targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zheng
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China
| | - Xinqi Lin
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China
| | - Yong Huang
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China.
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China.
| | - Chunhuan Zhang
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China.
| | - Zhoubin Zhang
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China
- Institute of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University & Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510440, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhu H, Ding W, Han W, Zheng X, Hu Y, Dong J, Wu Y, Wu D, Liu J, Zhu F. Prevalence and Residual Risk of HIV in Volunteer Blood Donors of Zhejiang Province, China, from 2018 to 2022. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY = JOURNAL CANADIEN DES MALADIES INFECTIEUSES ET DE LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE 2024; 2024:4749097. [PMID: 38826677 PMCID: PMC11142854 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4749097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Blood safety levels have been significantly improved since the implementation of nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for blood donors. However, there remains a residual risk of transfusion transmission infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its residual risk transmission among volunteer blood donors of Zhejiang Province, China, for five years after NAT implementation. Materials and Methods All specimens and information were collected from voluntary unpaid donors at all blood services in Zhejiang Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. The HIV antibody or antigen and HIV RNA were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NAT, respectively. The HIV residual risk transmission was calculated using the incidence or window period model. Results A total of 3,375,678 voluntary blood donors were detected, revealing an HIV prevalence of 9.92/100000. The HIV prevalence of blood donors in 12 blood services in Zhejiang Province was 6.11, 6.98, 7.45, 8.21, 8.36, 8.94, 9.04, 9.66, 9.73, 10.22, 11.80, and 12.47 per 100000 donors, without statistically significant difference observed among the services (p > 0.05). The HIV prevalence of males (15.49/100000) was significantly higher compared to females (1.95/100000; p < 0.05). There was an insignificant difference in HIV prevalence among blood donors of all different age groups (p > 0.05), but the HIV prevalence in the 26-35 age group and 18-25 age group was significantly higher compared to the 36-45 age group (p < 0.05). The difference in HIV prevalence between first-time blood donors (13.65/100,000) and repeat blood donors (6.78/100,000) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). From 2018 to 2022, the HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission was 0.266/100000. Conclusion The prevalence of HIV among blood donors in Zhejiang Province, China, is associated with age, gender, and times of blood donation. The HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission remains low in the province, and increasing the rate of repeat blood donors is beneficial to improve blood safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Wei Ding
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Wenjuan Han
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Xiaofan Zheng
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Yiqing Hu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Yaling Wu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Danxiao Wu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Jinhui Liu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| | - Faming Zhu
- Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
- Key Laboratory of Blood Safety Research of Zhejiang Province, Jianye Road 789, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bloch EM. Blood Banking Capacity in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma in Context. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2024. [PMID: 38772969 DOI: 10.1007/82_2024_266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Blood transfusion capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), encompassing both the safety and adequacy of the blood supply, is limited. The challenges facing blood banks in LMICs include regulatory oversight, blood donor selection, collection procedures, laboratory testing, and post-transfusion surveillance. A high proportion of LMICs are unable to fully meet clinical demands for blood products, and many do not meet even the minimum threshold of collection (10 units per 1000 population). Suboptimal clinical transfusion practices, in large part due to a lack of training in transfusion medicine, contribute to blood wastage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, high- and LMICs alike experienced blood shortages, in large part due to quarantine and containment measures that impeded donor mobility. COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) was particularly appealing for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in LMICs, as it is a relatively inexpensive intervention and makes use of the existing blood collection infrastructure. Nonetheless, the challenges of using CCP in LMICs need to be contextualized among broad concerns surrounding blood safety and availability. Specifically, reliance on first time, family replacement and paid donors, coupled with deficient infectious disease testing and quality oversight, increase the risk of transfusion transmitted infections from CCP in LMICs. Furthermore, many LMICs are unable to meet general transfusion needs; therefore, CCP collection also risked exacerbation of pervasive blood shortages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Bloch
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Joint Appt. International Health), 600 N. Wolfe Street/Carnegie 446 D1, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Faddy HM, Osiowy C, Custer B, Busch M, Stramer SL, Adesina O, van de Laar T, Tsoi WC, Styles C, Kiely P, Margaritis A, Kwon SY, Qiu Y, Deng X, Lewin A, Jørgensen SW, Erikstrup C, Juhl D, Sauleda S, Camacho Rodriguez BA, Coral LJCS, Gaviria García PA, Oota S, O'Brien SF, Wendel S, Castro E, Navarro Pérez L, Harvala H, Davison K, Reynolds C, Jarvis L, Grabarczyk P, Kopacz A, Łętowska M, O'Flaherty N, Young F, Williams P, Burke L, Chua SS, Muylaert A, Page I, Jones A, Niederhauser C, Vermeulen M, Laperche S, Gallian P, Sawadogo S, Satake M, Gharehbaghian A, Addas-Carvalho M, Blanco S, Gallego SV, Seltsam A, Weber-Schehl M, Al-Riyami AZ, Al Maamari K, Alawi FB, Pandey HC, Mbanya D, França RA, Charlewood R. International review of blood donation nucleic acid amplification testing. Vox Sang 2024; 119:315-325. [PMID: 38390819 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13592] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT), in blood services context, is used for the detection of viral and parasite nucleic acids to reduce transfusion-transmitted infections. This project reviewed NAT for screening blood donations globally. MATERIALS AND METHODS A survey on NAT usage, developed by the International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Transfusion-transmitted Infectious Diseases (ISBT WP-TTID), was distributed through ISBT WP-TTID members. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Forty-three responses were received from 32 countries. Increased adoption of blood donation viral screening by NAT was observed over the past decade. NAT-positive donations were detected for all viruses tested in 2019 (proportion of donations positive by NAT were 0.0099% for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], 0.0063% for hepatitis C virus [HCV], 0.0247% for hepatitis B virus [HBV], 0.0323% for hepatitis E virus [HEV], 0.0014% for West Nile virus [WNV] and 0.00005% for Zika virus [ZIKV]). Globally, over 3100 NAT-positive donations were identified as NAT yield or solely by NAT in 2019 and over 22,000 since the introduction of NAT, with HBV accounting for over half. NAT-positivity rate was higher in first-time donors for all viruses tested except WNV. During 2019, a small number of participants performed NAT for parasites (Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia spp., Plasmodium spp.). CONCLUSION This survey captures current use of blood donation NAT globally. There has been increased NAT usage over the last decade. It is clear that NAT contributes to improving blood transfusion safety globally; however, there is a need to overcome economic barriers for regions/countries not performing NAT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Faddy
- School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia
- Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carla Osiowy
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael Busch
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Thijs van de Laar
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wai-Chiu Tsoi
- Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Claire Styles
- Pathology & Clinical Governance, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Phil Kiely
- Pathology & Clinical Governance, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angelo Margaritis
- Manufacturing & Logistics, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - So-Yong Kwon
- Korean Red Cross Blood Services, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yan Qiu
- Beijing Red Cross Blood Centre, Beijing, China
| | | | - Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David Juhl
- University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Kiel, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Sineenart Oota
- National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Emma Castro
- Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Heli Harvala
- Microbiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, Bristol, UK
| | - Katy Davison
- NHSBT/UKHSA Epidemiology Unit, UKHSA, London, UK
| | | | - Lisa Jarvis
- Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Piotr Grabarczyk
- Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aneta Kopacz
- Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Fiona Young
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Lisa Burke
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | - Isabel Page
- Centro de Hemoterapia y Hemodonacion de Castilla y Leon, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Ann Jones
- Welsh Blood Service, Pontyclun, Wales, UK
| | | | - Marion Vermeulen
- The South African National Blood Service, Weltevreden Park, South Africa
| | - Syria Laperche
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint Denis, Tours, France
| | - Pierre Gallian
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint Denis, Tours, France
| | - Salam Sawadogo
- National Blood Transfusion Center of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Ahmad Gharehbaghian
- Laboratory Hematology & Blood Bank Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Sandra V Gallego
- Fundación Banco Central de Sangre, Córdoba, Argentina
- Virology Institute, School of Medicine, National University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Axel Seltsam
- Bavarian Red Cross Blood Donation Service, Wiesentheid, Germany
| | | | - Arwa Z Al-Riyami
- Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Khuloud Al Maamari
- Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Fatma Ba Alawi
- Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Hem Chandra Pandey
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Dora Mbanya
- National Blood Transfusion Service, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lewin A, Goldman M, Busch MP, Davison K, van de Laar T, Tiberghien P, Shinar E, O'Brien SF, Lambert G, Field S, Hervig T, Tan DHS, Custer B, Drews SJ, Lanteri MC, Klochkov D, Widmer E, Domingue MP, Renaud C, Germain M. End of selection criteria based on sexual orientation: An international symposium on alternatives to donation deferral. Vox Sang 2024; 119:388-401. [PMID: 38270352 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Until recently, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) were deferred from donating blood for 3-12 months since the last male-to-male sexual contact. This MSM deferral has been discontinued by several high-income countries (HIC) that now perform gender-neutral donor selection. MATERIALS AND METHODS An international symposium (held on 20-04-2023) gathered experts from seven HICs to (1) discuss how this paradigm shift might affect the mitigation strategies for transfusion-transmitted infections and (2) address the challenges related to gender-neutral donor selection. RESULTS Most countries employed a similar approach for implementing a gender-neutral donor selection policy: key stakeholders were consulted; the transition was bridged by time-limited deferrals; donor compliance was monitored; and questions or remarks on anal sex and the number and/or type of sexual partners were often added. Many countries have now adopted a gender-neutral approach in which questions on pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been added (or retained, when already in place). Other countries used mitigation strategies, such as plasma quarantine or pathogen reduction technologies for plasma and/or platelets. CONCLUSION The experience with gender-neutral donor selection has been largely positive among the countries covered herein and seems to be acceptable to stakeholders, donors and staff. The post-implementation surveillance data collected so far appear reassuring with regards to safety, although longer observation periods are necessary. The putative risks associated with HIV antiretrovirals should be further investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael P Busch
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Katy Davison
- NHS Blood and Transplant/UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Epidemiology Unit, UKHSA, London, UK
| | - Thijs van de Laar
- Department of Donor Medicine Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre Tiberghien
- Établissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint Denis, France
- UMR 1098, Inserm, Établissement Français du Sang, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Eilat Shinar
- National Blood Services, Magen David Adom, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gilles Lambert
- Direction régionale de santé publique - Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stephen Field
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tor Hervig
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darrell H S Tan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Steven J Drews
- Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marion C Lanteri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Scientific Affairs, Creative Testing Solutions, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Denis Klochkov
- Research and Development, CSL Behring, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Marie-Pier Domingue
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc Germain
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal and Québec, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Conti G, Notari E, Dodd RY, Kessler D, Custer B, Reik R, Lanteri MC, Hailu B, Yang H, Stramer SL. Syphilis seroprevalence and incidence in US blood donors from 2020 to 2022. Transfusion 2024; 64:325-333. [PMID: 38180267 PMCID: PMC10922865 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17707] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV, HBV, and HCV infections for ~60% of the US blood supply are monitored by TTIMS with syphilis added in 2020. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Data were compiled from October 2020 to September 2022. Syphilis prevalence was estimated for allogeneic and directed donors who were consensus positive (CP) and the subset of those with confirmed-active infections (AI). Prevalence and incidence were stratified by demographics for two consecutive 1-year periods, starting October 1, 2020 and for both years combined. Incidence was estimated for repeat donors. Associations between syphilis positivity and other infections were evaluated. RESULTS Among 14.75 million donations, syphilis prevalence was 28.4/100,000 donations and significantly higher during the second year compared to the first year. Overall, syphilis incidence for the two-year period was 10.8/100,000 person-years. The adjusted odds of a CP infection were 1.18 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.26) times higher in the second year compared to the first, and for AI, 1.22 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.35) times higher in year 2. Highest rates occurred among males, first-time, Black, and younger (ages 18-39) donors, and those in the South US Census region. Syphilis CP donors were 64 (95% CI: 46, 89) times more likely to be HIV CP, and AI donors 77 (95% CI: 52, 114) times more likely to be HIV CP than non-CP donors, when controlling for confounders. SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS Syphilis prevalence increased over the study period mirroring national trends reported by CDC and is significantly associated with HIV CP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Galen Conti
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville, MD
| | - Ed Notari
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville, MD
| | - Roger Y. Dodd
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville, MD
| | | | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Marion C. Lanteri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
- Creative Testing Solutions, Tempe, AZ
| | | | - Hong Yang
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
O'Brien SF, Ehsani-Moghaddam B, Goldman M, Drews SJ. Prevalence of Hepatitis B in Canadian First-Time Blood Donors: Association with Social Determinants of Health. Viruses 2024; 16:117. [PMID: 38257817 DOI: 10.3390/v16010117] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B is transmitted sexually, by blood contact, and vertically from mother to child. Chronic hepatitis B is often seen in immigrants from higher-prevalence countries and their Canadian-born children. We assessed the relationship between hepatitis B and social determinants of health. Included were 1,539,869 first-time Canadian blood donors from April 2005 to December 2022. All donations were tested for hepatitis B markers. Logistic regression was fit with chronic hepatitis B as the dependent variable and age, sex, year, and ethnocultural composition and material deprivation quintiles as independent variables. Chronic hepatitis B prevalence was 47.5/100,000 (95% CI 41.5-53.5, years 2017-2022). Chronic hepatitis B prevalence was elevated in males, older age groups, and those living in more materially deprived and higher ethnocultural neighbourhoods. Of 212,518 donors from 2020 to 2022 with race/ethnicity data, chronic hepatitis B prevalence was highest in East Asians. The findings are consistent with infections in immigrants, acquired in their country of origin, in their Canadian-born children and in those with other risks. As blood donors are a low-risk population unaware of their infection and unlikely to seek testing, our results highlight the ongoing public health challenges of diagnosing chronic hepatitis B and treating it when appropriate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5, Canada
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 192, Canada
| | - Behrouz Ehsani-Moghaddam
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5, Canada
- Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Department of Family Medicine, Queens University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Mindy Goldman
- Donation and Policy Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 192, Canada
| | - Steven J Drews
- Microbiology, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bloch EM, Busch MP, Corash LM, Dodd R, Hailu B, Kleinman S, O'Brien S, Petersen L, Stramer SL, Katz L. Leveraging Donor Populations to Study the Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Transfusion-Transmitted and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Transfus Med Rev 2023; 37:150769. [PMID: 37919210 PMCID: PMC10841704 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2023.150769] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The tragedy of transfusion-associated hepatitis and HIV spurred a decades-long overhaul of the regulatory oversight and practice of blood transfusion. Consequent to improved donor selection, testing, process control, clinical transfusion practice and post-transfusion surveillance, transfusion in the United States and other high-income countries is now a very safe medical procedure. Nonetheless, pathogens continue to emerge and threaten the blood supply, highlighting the need for a proactive approach to blood transfusion safety. Blood donor populations and the global transfusion infrastructure are under-utilized resources for the study of infectious diseases. Blood donors are large, demographically diverse subsets of general populations for whom cross-sectional and longitudinal samples are readily accessible for serological and molecular testing. Blood donor collection networks span diverse geographies, including in low- and middle-income countries, where agents, especially zoonotic pathogens, are able to emerge and spread, given limited tools for recognition, surveillance and control. Routine laboratory storage and transportation, coupled with data capture, afford access to rich epidemiological data to assess the epidemiology and pathogenesis of established and emerging infections. Subsequent to the State of the Science in Transfusion Medicine symposium in 2022, our working group (WG), "Emerging Infections: Impact on Blood Science, the Blood Supply, Blood Safety, and Public Health" elected to focus on "leveraging donor populations to study the epidemiology and pathogenesis of transfusion-transmitted and emerging infectious diseases." The 5 landmark studies span (1) the implication of hepatitis C virus in post-transfusion hepatitis, (2) longitudinal evaluation of plasma donors with incident infections, thus informing the development of a widely used staging system for acute HIV infection, (3) explication of the dynamics of early West Nile Virus infection, (4) the deployment of combined molecular and serological donor screening for Babesia microti, to characterize its epidemiology and infectivity and facilitate routine donor screening, and (5) national serosurveillance for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies highlight the interplay between infectious diseases and transfusion medicine, including the imperative to ensure blood transfusion safety and the broader application of blood donor populations to the study of infectious diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Bloch
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Michael P Busch
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laurence M Corash
- Cerus Corporation, Concord, CA, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Roger Dodd
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Benyam Hailu
- Division of Blood Diseases Research, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Sheila O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Microbiology, Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lyle Petersen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Louis Katz
- ImpactLife Blood Services, Davenport, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Laperche S, Sauvage C, Gallian P, Jbilou S, Pouchol E, Py JY, Chabli L, Richard P, Morel P, Lot F, Tiberghien P. Human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus incidence in blood donors from 2000 to 2020 in France: Trends and lessons from haemovigilance surveillance. Vox Sang 2023; 118:843-853. [PMID: 37694766 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13514] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Data from 21 years (2000-2020) of haemovigilance were used to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rates in repeat blood donors and the occurrence of transfusion-transmitted (TT) viral infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blood donors who converted for HIV, HCV or HBV markers within serial three-year analysis periods were included. Epidemiological and virological data were retrieved from the national epidemiological donor database and were supplemented with information on blood components and the infection status of recipients of the previous negative donation (D.N-1) of donors who seroconverted. RESULTS Incidence rates declined from 1.27 to 0.35/100,000 person-years for HIV, from 0.59 to 0.19 for HCV and from 1.66 to 0.18 for HBV. Risk factors and lookback for 232 HIV, 90 HCV and 74 HBV seroconversions were investigated. The main risk factor identified at post-donation interview was having sex with men (47.8% of males) for HIV and a sexual risk for HCV (30.6%) and HBV (37.1%). The viral loads and sequences were retrospectively tested in 191 HIV, 74 HCV and 62 HBV D.N-1 archived samples. Six (five HBV and one HIV-1) were positive all low viral loads. Two recipients were infected by red blood cells from two HBV seroconverting donors before the introduction of HBV-nucleic acid testing. CONCLUSION HIV, HCV and HBV incidence rates in blood donors declined over the two past decades in France. There is a very small risk of a blood component that tests negative entering the blood supply resulting in TT infections, especially after introduction of molecular assays in donor screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syria Laperche
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
- National Reference Centre for infectious risks in transfusion, Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France
| | | | - Pierre Gallian
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Saadia Jbilou
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Elodie Pouchol
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Jean Yves Py
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Lila Chabli
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Pascale Richard
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
| | - Pascal Morel
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
- UMR RIGHT 1098, Université de Franche-Comté INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Besançon, France
| | | | - Pierre Tiberghien
- Etablissement Français du Sang, La Plaine Saint-Denis, France
- UMR RIGHT 1098, Université de Franche-Comté INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Besançon, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Custer B, Whitaker B, Pollack L, Buccheri R, Bruhn R, Crowder L, Stramer SL, Reik R, Pandey S, Stone M, Di Germanio C, Buchacz K, Eder A, Lu Y, Forshee R, Anderson S, Marks P. HIV risk behavior profiles among men who have sex with men interested in donating blood: Findings from the Assessing Donor Variability and New Concepts in Eligibility study. Transfusion 2023; 63:1872-1884. [PMID: 37642154 PMCID: PMC11284767 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17515] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual risk assessment allows donors to be evaluated based on their own behaviors. Study objectives were to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors in men who have sex with men (MSM) and estimate the proportion of the study population who would not be deferred for higher risk HIV sexual behaviors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Cross-sectional survey and biomarker assessment were conducted in eight U.S. cities. Participants were sexually active MSM interested in blood donation aged 18-39 years, assigned male sex at birth. Participants completed surveys during two study visits to define eligibility, and self-reported sexual and HIV prevention behaviors. Blood was drawn at study visit 1 and tested for HIV and the presence of tenofovir, one of the drugs in oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Associations were assessed between HIV infection status or HIV PrEP use and behaviors, including sex partners, new partners, and anal sex. RESULTS A total of 1566 MSM completed the visit 1 questionnaire and blood draw and 1197 completed the visit 2 questionnaire. Among 1562 persons without HIV, 789 (50.4%) were not taking PrEP. Of those not taking PrEP, 66.2% reported one sexual partner or no anal sex and 69% reported no new sexual partners or no anal sex with a new partner in the past 3 months. CONCLUSION The study found that questions were able to identify sexually active, HIV-negative MSM who report lower risk sexual behaviors. About a quarter of enrolled study participants would be potentially eligible blood donors using individual risk assessment questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Barbee Whitaker
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Lance Pollack
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Renata Buccheri
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Roberta Bruhn
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Lauren Crowder
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville & Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Susan L. Stramer
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Rockville & Gaithersburg, MD
| | | | | | - Mars Stone
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Clara Di Germanio
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kate Buchacz
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV Research Branch, Division of HIV Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Anne Eder
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Yun Lu
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Richard Forshee
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Steven Anderson
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| | - Peter Marks
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schroyens N, Borra V, Compernolle V, Vandekerckhove P, De Buck E. Men who have sex with men and risk for transfusion-transmissible infections in blood donors in Western countries: A systematic review update. Vox Sang 2023; 118:709-720. [PMID: 37322809 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13482] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This systematic review update summarizes evidence concerning transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) in male blood donors reporting sex with another man (MSM) or after easing the MSM deferral period. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched five databases, including studies comparing MSM versus non-MSM donors (Type I), MSM deferral periods (Type II) or infected versus non-infected donors (Type III) in Western countries, and used GRADE to determine evidence certainty. RESULTS Twenty-five observational studies were included. Four Type I studies suggest that there may be an increased risk for overall TTIs, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and syphilis in MSM donors, but the evidence is very uncertain. There was insufficient evidence of MSM with low-risk sexual behaviour. A Type II study indicates that easing the MSM deferral period to 1 year may have little to no effect on TTI risk. TTI prevalence in blood donors under 5-year, 1-year, 3-month or risk-based deferral in eight other Type II studies was too low to provide clear conclusions on the effect of easing the deferral. Three Type III studies reported that MSM may be a risk factor for HIV. Increased risk of HBV, hepatitis C virus and HTLV-I/II could not be shown. The evidence from Type III studies is very uncertain. CONCLUSION There may be an increased risk of HIV in MSM blood donors. Shortening the deferral from permanent to 1 year may have little to no effect on TTI risk. However, there is limited, unclear evidence from observational studies concerning the impact of introducing 3-month or risk-based deferrals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Schroyens
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vere Borra
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Compernolle
- Belgian Red Cross, Blood Services, Mechelen, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Philippe Vandekerckhove
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Emmy De Buck
- Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Boudreaux J. Transfusion management in thalassemia. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1527:42-48. [PMID: 37531552 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15049] [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] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
This review describes the current challenges and recommendations in the transfusion management of thalassemia patients. In addition, it reviews the components of blood safety and blood product modification in special populations. Adverse transfusion reactions are described as are some of the newer technologies being utilized to reduce potential transfusion-associated pathogens. Lastly, research in blood storage and in manufactured blood is briefly described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Boudreaux
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mangala C, Fokam J, Maulot-Bangola D, Rebienot-Pellegrin O, Nkoa T. Genetic diversity of the human immunodeficiency virus of type 1 in Gabonese transfusional settings. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:191. [PMID: 36997860 PMCID: PMC10061732 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08154-7] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high endemicity of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) in sub-Saharan Africa is a real public health problem. To reduce the risk of HIV transmission through blood donation, the NBTC of Gabon has launched in recent years a reorganization of its blood transfusion system. This study aims to characterize the molecular strains of HIV-1 circulating in donors and to estimate the risk of viral transmission. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out during the period from August 2020 to August 2021 among 381 donors who had agreed to donate blood at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC). Viral load was determined by Abbott Real-Time (Abbott m2000®, Abbott) and sequencing by the Sanger method (ABI 3500 Hitachi®). The phylogenetic tree was constructed by MEGA X software. Data were checked, entered, and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 381 donors were enrolled in the study. Among the 359 seronegative donors, five (5) seronegative donors were detected positive for HIV-1 using Real-Time PCR. The residual risk was 648 per 1,000,000 donations. The prevalence of residual infection was 1.4% [0,01; 0,03]. Sixteen (16) samples were sequenced. The strains obtained were CRF02_AG (50%), subtype A1 (18.8%), subtype G (12.5%), CRF45_cpx (12.5%) and subtype F2 (6.2%). Six sequences clustered with A1, G, CRF02_AG, and CRF45_cpx subtypes. CONCLUSION The residual risk of HIV-1 transmission by blood transfusion remains a concern in the Gabonese transfusional settings. A policy based on improving the current screening strategy would involve the implementation of the nucleic acid test (NAT) in order to optimize the safety of the donation by detecting the HIV-1 subtypes in circulation in the donors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Mangala
- Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Libreville, Gabon.
| | - Joseph Fokam
- Chantal Biya International Reference Center (CBIRC)), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Denis Maulot-Bangola
- Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Libreville, Gabon
| | | | - Thérèse Nkoa
- Catholic University of Central Africa (CUCA), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Crowder LA, Haynes JM, Notari EP, Dodd RY, Stramer SL. Low risk of human T-lymphotropic virus infection in U.S. blood donors; Is it time to consider a one-time selective testing approach? Transfusion 2023; 63:764-773. [PMID: 36794656 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17279] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND U.S. blood donors are tested at each donation for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) antibodies. Depending on donor incidence and other mitigation/removal technologies, a strategy of one-time selective donor testing should be considered. METHODS Antibody seroprevalence was calculated for HTLV-confirmed-positive American Red Cross allogeneic blood donors from 2008 to 2021. Incidence was estimated for seven 2-year time periods using confirmed-positive repeat donors having seroconverted in 730 days. Leukoreduction failure rates were obtained from internal data from July 1, 2008-June 30, 2021. Residual risks were calculated using a 51-day window period. RESULTS Between 2008 and 2021, >75 million donations (>18 million donors) yielded 1550 HTLV seropositives. HTLV seroprevalence was 2.05 antibody-positives per 100,000 donations (0.77 HTLV-1, 1.03 HTLV-2, 0.24 HTLV-1/2), and 10.32 per 100,000 among >13.9 million first-time donors. Seroprevalence differed significantly by virus type, sex, age, race/ethnicity, donor status, and U.S. census region. Over 14 years and 24.8 million person-years of observation, 57 incident donors were identified (25 HTLV-1, 23 HTLV-2, and 9 HTLV-1/2). Incidence decreased from 0.30 (13 cases) in 2008-2009 to 0.25 (7 cases) in 2020-2021. Female donors accounted for most incident cases (47 vs. 10 males). In the last 2-year reporting period, the residual risk was 1 per 2.8 million donations and 1 per 3.3 billion donations when coupled with successful leukoreduction (0.085% failure rate). CONCLUSIONS HTLV donation seroprevalence for the years 2008-2021 varied by virus type and donor characteristics. Low HTLV residual risk and use of leukoreduction processes support the conclusion that a selective one-time donor testing strategy should be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Crowder
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - James M Haynes
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Edward P Notari
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Roger Y Dodd
- Medical and Scientific Office, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Xu X, Wu C, Lou Z, Peng C, Jiang L, Wu T, Zeng T, Dong Y, Ruan B. Changing incidence of hepatitis B and persistent infection risk in adults: a population-based follow-up study from 2011 in China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:256. [PMID: 36747172 PMCID: PMC9901124 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15130-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to estimate hepatitis B incidence and chronicity risk in rural adults in China under the background of eliminating viral hepatitis. METHODS Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening was conducted every 2 years in demonstration areas since 2011. Individuals with baseline HBsAg-negative were included. Incidence was calculated as the number of HBsAg-positive cases divided by the total person-times. HBsAg-positive individuals were followed up to study the persistent infection (> 6 months), chronic infection (> 12 months), and recovery with hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). The chi-square test and cox proportional regression analysis were performed. RESULTS There were 8,942 incident cases over 2,138,532 person-years, yielding an average incidence of 0.42 per 100 person-years. HBV incidence decreased rapidly in both genders and all age groups and then kept stable. Male gender, low population density, low gross domestic product per capita, and islanders were associated with higher incidence. Of the positive cases, 4,989 (55.8%) patients were followed up. The persistent infection, chronic infection, and recovery with anti-HBs rates were 32.3%, 31.0%, and 31.4%, respectively. Persistent or chronic infection was more common in younger adults and males, while seroconversion had no concern with gender or age. CONCLUSIONS HBV incidence in adult rural residents was decreasing and stayed low. The chronicity rate was relatively high and protective antibodies were induced in only one third. The importance of population-based screening and vaccination for susceptible individuals should be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolan Xu
- grid.452661.20000 0004 1803 6319State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China ,Zhejiang Provincial Peoples’s Hospital, 310000 Hangzhou, China
| | - Chensi Wu
- grid.452661.20000 0004 1803 6319State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China ,Zhejiang Provincial Peoples’s Hospital, 310000 Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoqi Lou
- grid.452661.20000 0004 1803 6319State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China
| | - Chunting Peng
- grid.452661.20000 0004 1803 6319State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China
| | - Lushun Jiang
- grid.452661.20000 0004 1803 6319State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianxian Wu
- People’s Hospital Medical Community of Yuhuan County, 318000 Taizhou, China
| | - Taiwen Zeng
- People’s Hospital Medical Community of Yuhuan County, 318000 Taizhou, China
| | - Yin Dong
- People's Hospital Medical Community of Yuhuan County, 318000, Taizhou, China.
| | - Bing Ruan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Dodd RY, Stramer SL. How do we forecast tomorrow's transfusion: Infectious safety? Transfus Clin Biol 2023; 30:35-38. [PMID: 35987477 DOI: 10.1016/j.tracli.2022.08.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Continuous improvement has led to a very high degree of microbial safety of transfusion. Four issues are likely to impact the future of this safety. There will be further advances in the efficacy and efficiency of donation testing and pathogen reduction, increasing safety and hopefully eliminating unnecessary procedures. While system failures have been essentially eliminated, there will be ongoing, unpredictable issues that are inevitable. Emerging infections are likely the greatest concern and will continue, although advances in science and technology will permit increasingly rapid responses to outbreaks. Finally, the practice of transfusion may eventually impact safety as usage of blood is reduced and perhaps as alternatives to conventional blood components are developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Y Dodd
- American Red Cross Blood Services, Scientific Affairs, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
| | - Susan L Stramer
- American Red Cross Blood Services, Scientific Affairs, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Brennan DJ, Armstrong JP, Kesler M, Bekele T, Lachowsky NJ, Grace D, Hart TA, Souleymanov R, Adam BD. Willingness and eligibility to donate blood under 12-month and 3-month deferral policies among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Ontario, Canada. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001380. [PMID: 36962853 PMCID: PMC10021805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In Canada, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are a population that are willing to donate blood, if eligible, but have a history of ineligibility and deferrals due to concerns that their blood poses an increased risk of HIV entering the blood supply. Our objective was to examine the proportion of GBMSM who are willing and eligible to donate under the 12-month deferral policy (implemented in 2016) and the 3-month deferral policy (implemented in 2019). Data for this study comes from the #iCruise study, a mixed cohort study designed to examine sexual health outreach experiences through online services and mobile apps among GBMSM in Ontario. A total of 910 participants were recruited between July 2017 and January 2018. Eligibility criteria include identify as male (cisgender or transgender); at least 14 years old; having had sex with a man in the previous year or identifying as sexually/romantically attracted to other men or identifying as gay, bisexual, queer or two-spirit; and living or working in Ontario or having visited Ontario four or more times in the past year. Participants completed a baseline and a follow-up questionnaire. A subset of #iCruise participants (n = 447) further completed this questionnaire. Willingness and eligibility to donate blood were assessed under 12-month and 3-month deferral policies. Of the 447 GBMSM surveyed, 309 (69.1%) reported a general interest in donating blood. 109 (24.4%) GBMSM were willing, 75 (16.7%) were eligible, and 24 (5.4%) were both willing and eligible to donate blood under the 12-month deferral policy. Under the 3-month deferral policy, willingness and eligibility to donate blood increased significantly to 42.3% and 29.3%, respectively. The percent of GBMSM who were both willing and eligible to donate blood also increased significantly to 12.3% under the 3-month deferral policy. The increase in willingness to donate blood varied by age, ethnicity, and geographic residence of participants whereas the increase in eligibility to donate blood varied by education level of participants. Under the 3-month deferral policy, GBMSM who were 50 years or older, identified as bisexual or other, had a lower education level, and who were not 'out' to others were more likely to be eligible to donate. GBMSM who reported a general interest in donating blood were more likely to be willing to donate blood under both deferral policies. The most common reason for not being interested in donating blood was the MSM deferral policy itself; many participants interpreted the policy as discriminatory for 'singling out' GBMSM or self-assed themselves as ineligible. Among study participants, both willingness and eligibility to donate blood was significantly higher under the 3-month deferral policy. The results suggest that a time-based reduction to a 3-month deferral policy is impactful but limited. Future research should measure GBMSM's willingness and eligibility under the individual risk-based assessment (to be implemented in 2022).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Brennan
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - JP Armstrong
- Department of Sociology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Maya Kesler
- Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Nathan J. Lachowsky
- School of Public Health & Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Daniel Grace
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Trevor A. Hart
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rusty Souleymanov
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus), Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Barry D. Adam
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lambert G, Cox J, Fourmigue A, Dvorakova M, Apelian H, Moodie EEM, Grace D, Skakoon-Sparling S, Moore DM, Lachowsky N, Jollimore J, Lal A, Parlette A, Hart TA. HIV incidence and related risks among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver: Informing blood donor selection criteria in Canada. Transfusion 2022; 62:2555-2567. [PMID: 36197064 PMCID: PMC10092181 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An individualized behavior-based selection approach has potential to allow for a more equitable blood donor eligibility process. We collected biological and behavioral data from urban gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) to inform the use of this approach in Canada. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Engage is a closed prospective cohort of sexually active GBM, aged 16+ years, recruited via respondent-driven-sampling (RDS) in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, Canada. Participants completed a questionnaire on behaviors (past 6 months) and tested for HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections at each visit. Rate ratios for HIV infection and predictive values for blood donation eligibility criteria were estimated by RDS-adjusted Poisson regression. RESULTS Data on 2008 (study visits 2017-02 to 2021-08) HIV-negative participants were used. The HIV incidence rate for the three cities was 0.4|100 person-years [95%CI:0.3, 0.6]. HIV seroconversion was associated with age <30 years: adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 9.1 [95%CI:3.2, 26.2], 6-10 and >10 anal sex partners versus 1-6 aRR: 5.3 [2.1,13.5] and 8.4 [3.4, 20.9], and use of crystal methamphetamine during sex: 4.2 [1.5, 11.6]. Applying the combined selection criteria: drug injection, ≥2 anal sex partners, and a new anal sex partner, detected all participants who seroconverted (100% sensitivity, 100% negative predictive value), and would defer 63% of study participants from donating. CONCLUSION Using three screening questions regarding drug injection and sexual behaviors in the past 6 months would correctly identify potential GBM donors at high risk of having recently contracted HIV. Doing so would reduce the proportion of deferred sexually active GBM by one-third.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Lambert
- Direction Régionale de Santé Publique de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Joseph Cox
- Direction Régionale de Santé Publique de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Fourmigue
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Milada Dvorakova
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Herak Apelian
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Erica E M Moodie
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Daniel Grace
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - David M Moore
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathan Lachowsky
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Community-Based Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jody Jollimore
- Community-Based Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Allan Lal
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Abbie Parlette
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor A Hart
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pandey HC, Varghese M, Rana A, Kumar R, Jain P. Residual risk estimates of transfusion transmissible hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus using nucleic acid testing yield/window period model in an Indian setting. Transfus Med 2022; 32:492-498. [DOI: 10.1111/tme.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hem Chandra Pandey
- Main Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
| | - Mariamma Varghese
- Main Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
| | - Arvind Rana
- Main Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Main Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
| | - Pankaj Jain
- Main Blood Bank, Department of Transfusion Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Bloch
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Groves JA, Y Dodd R, Zhu X, Linnen JM, Stramer SL. Background rate of low-level HCV RNA in anti-HCV confirmed-positive and minipool nucleic acid test-nonreactive blood donations. Transfusion 2021; 62:143-150. [PMID: 34888879 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration revised the requirement for further testing of anti-HCV-reactive donations testing nucleic acid (NAT)-nonreactive via routine mini-pool (MP)-NAT. Individual donation (ID)-HCV NAT was required as a supplemental test prior to a second FDA-licensed anti-HCV assay; if ID-HCV-NAT is reactive, no further testing is required. This study investigated the rate of low-level RNA in anti-HCV-reactive donation samples prior to and following the implementation of supplemental ID-HCV NAT. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on frozen plasma unit samples from 1161 anti-HCV confirmed-positive/HCV-NAT-nonreactive donations collected from December 2014 to January 2020. Samples were tested by multiple replicates on the Grifols Procleix Ultrio Elite (UE) assay and corresponding discriminatory HCV (dHCV) assay on the Procleix Panther System. Prospectively, the prevalence of low-level RNA in 2912 anti-HCV-reactive donations detected through routine screening from April 2020 through March 2021 was determined. RESULTS In retrospective analyses, 10 (0.86%) of 1161 plasma samples were UE reactive, of which four (0.34%) were dHCV reactive (in all replicates of UE and dHCV). Of 2912 anti-HCV-reactive donation samples testing NAT-nonreactive via routine MP-NAT, three (0.1%; 95% CI: 0.04-0.30) were dHCV reactive; 37% of the remaining samples were reactive by a second anti-HCV assay and thus serologically confirmed. CONCLUSIONS Retrospective and prospective analysis in comparison to earlier studies revealed that low-level HCV-RNA reactivity is decreasing over time. The very low HCV-RNA rates may be due to the widespread use of highly effective, direct-acting anti-viral treatments for those diagnosed with HCV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jamel A Groves
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Roger Y Dodd
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiaomei Zhu
- Grifols Diagnostic Solutions, Emeryville Inc., Emeryville, California, USA
| | | | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
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: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sarker T, Katz LM, Bloch EM, Goel R. Blood Product (Donor) Noninfectious and Infectious Testing and Modification. Clin Lab Med 2021; 41:579-598. [PMID: 34689966 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Blood transfusion begins with safe donor selection and testing. In the United States, the blood supply and transfusion are highly regulated. Blood transfusion safety is multifaceted, whereby each of the elements of the blood safety value chain, spanning donor recruitment and qualification, to collection, blood processing, testing, transfusion practice, and posttransfusion surveillance, must be optimized to minimize risk. Pathogen inactivation is a promising approach to decrease bacterial contamination of platelets, inactivate parasites and viruses, and decrease risks associated with emerging and unidentified pathogens. This article offers an overview of blood donor infectious and noninfectious testing in the United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Sarker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Louis M Katz
- Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Davenport, IA, USA; Carver College of Medicine, UIHC, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Evan M Bloch
- Department of Pathology, Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street/Carnegie 446 D1, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ruchika Goel
- Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, Davenport, IA, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU SOM; Division of Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Nishiya AS, Salles NA, de Almeida-Neto C, Witkin SS, Ferreira SC, Nogueira FAH, Facincani T, Rocha V, Mendrone-Jr A. Influence of unreported HIV prophylaxis on the kinetics of post-blood donation HIV seroconversion. Transfusion 2021; 61:3488-3492. [PMID: 34617611 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020, of 110,000 blood donors screened for HIV exposure two individuals were identified who were viral RNA-positive but seronegative. One of the donors, borderline negative in a pooled screening test for HIV RNA, utilized antiretroviral drugs as post-exposure, pre-donation prophylaxis. The kinetics of subsequent HIV seropositivity in both donors are described. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Both donors were recalled and interviewed, and blood was obtained at intervals for HIV antibodies and RNA testing. RESULTS One donor used antiretroviral prophylaxis for 30 days due to a relationship with an HIV-positive partner. In follow-up samples, seroconversion was noted at 70 days, and viral RNA was detected at 105 days, after blood donation. In contrast, the other donor seroconverted in <25 days and the appearance and titer of HIV RNA was in accordance with the typical pre-seroconversion window. CONCLUSION The use of anti-viral prophylaxis by blood donors in the acute phase of HIV infection delays seroconversion. A 6-month deferral in blood donation after HIV prophylaxis, as currently recommended in Brazil, would have been sufficient in this case to mitigate the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. Ultimately, improvement in donor compliance with selection procedures for blood donation is needed to optimize blood safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Nishiya
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and targeted therapy in Oncoimmunohematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nanci A Salles
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cesar de Almeida-Neto
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Disciplina de Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Steven S Witkin
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Suzete C Ferreira
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and targeted therapy in Oncoimmunohematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tila Facincani
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanderson Rocha
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and targeted therapy in Oncoimmunohematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Disciplina de Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Churchill Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Alfredo Mendrone-Jr
- Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and targeted therapy in Oncoimmunohematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|