1Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
2Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq
*Corresponding author: Prof. Dr. Alaa H. Al-Charrakh Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq, Telephone: 00-964-7816658072, Email: ahani67@gmail.com
Online published on 6 April, 2019.
This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV among blood donors, and to identify some features of seropositive blood donors in the Main blood bank in Najaf province, Iraq.
This cross-sectional study was carried out among blood donors. Data were collected from the records of the Main blood bank. Screening of all blood donors was done for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), and HIV antibody by ELISA test.
From a total of 35669 blood donors who attended Main blood bank during 2017–2018, 1305 were seropositive. The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infection among blood donors were 3%, 0.5%, and 0.06% respectively. Most of the seropositive donors were HBV positive 1101, (84.3%), 181 (13.9%) were HCV positive, and only 23 (1.8%) were HIV positive. The majority of them were male (98.5%), they lived mostly in urban areas (80.2%). The highest rates of viral hepatitis and HIV occurred in age groups (30–39) and (40–49) years which were 39.3% and 26.7%, respectively. More than one third (38.4%) of seropositive donors of blood group O, and most of them (86.6%) were of an Rh-positive phenotype.
The current study demonstrated serious challenges regarding the HBV, HCV and HIV prevalence in Najaf Province. Results of the present research will be helpful for the better control and management of viral hepatitis and Human immunodeficiency virus among blood donors.
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Prevalence, Blood donors
