Test seeking: are healthcare professionals referring people to blood centers for infections marker testing?

Abstract

BackgroundTest-seeking is associated with HIV in Brazilian blood donors. This study sought to investigate the frequency with which three different donor groups: deferred donors, accepted donors who tested HIV positive [HIV (+)], and accepted donors who tested infectious disease markers negative [IDM (−)], came to the blood bank at the suggestion of a health care professional.Study design and methodsDonors deferred for reporting high-risk behaviors and participants in an HIV risk factor case-control study completed a confidential audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) that included two questions related to health care professionals and test-seeking.ResultsOf 4013 enrolled deferred donors, 468 (11.8%) reported a health care professional suggested donation as a way to be tested for infection. Of 341 HIV (+) and 791 IDM (−) participants, 43 (12.6%) and 11 (1.4%), respectively, reported a health care professional suggested donation as a way to be tested for infection. Physicians were the most frequently reported source of referral: [(61.5% of deferred, 69.1% of HIV (+), and 9.1% of IDM (−) donors)].ConclusionHIV (+) donors and deferred donors were 10 times more likely to report test-seeking behavior by suggestion of health care professional than IDM (−) donors. If true, efforts should be made to educate health care professionals and blood donors on how to safeguard the blood supply, emphasizing that HIV testing should be done at volunteer testing centers rather than at the blood centers.

10‐year analysis of human immunodeficiency virus incidence in first‐time and repeat donors in Brazil

“…The reasons why HIV incidence is higher in community donors in Brazil are not known. Previous results from our group have shown that test-seeking behaviour is higher among HIV-positive blood donors than donors with no infection [15]. In our previous study, although the proportion of test seekers was higher among replacement donors, this association was not maintained in multivariable analysis [16].…”

High prevalence of blood donor test-seeking behavior among health sciences undergraduate students

“…These findings, when added to the narrative of healthcare professionals account for a significant proportion of persons seeking tests at blood banks 6 , signal a need for further studies about this topic at earlier stages in the university environment and in the context of healthcare systems. Understanding the determinants of testseeking behavior is paramount for the maintenance of transfusion safety in Brazil.…”

“…Alarming data about attempts to receive serological testing in blood banks at the suggestion of healthcare professionals have been reported 6 . In a recent study conducted in four large Brazilians blood banks, donors who had tested HIV positive and those previously refused for donation represented 12.6% and 11.8% of all cases, respectively.…”

“…In a recent study conducted in four large Brazilians blood banks, donors who had tested HIV positive and those previously refused for donation represented 12.6% and 11.8% of all cases, respectively. Evidence showed that they had sought blood bank testing after suggestions from a physician (69.1% and 61.5% of the cases, respectively), followed by "someone from the health department" (21.4% and 18.4%, respectively) 6 .…”

Comment to: Test seeking: are health care professionals referring people to the blood centers for infectious markers testing?

“…The main finding of the article of Moreno and collaborators 1 published in this issue of Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy , is astonishing: health care professionals, mainly medical doctors, advised at-risk and HIV infected subjects to try to donate blood in order to get tested for HIV and hepatitis viruses.…”