Trends in prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among Iranian blood donors, 1998–2007

Abstract

Assessment of the quality of donor selection and safety of the blood supply can be estimated by monitoring the prevalence of the serologic markers of infectious disease in screening tests. In the present study, changes in rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are studied in the period 1998-2007 in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO). Prevalence of serological marker of HBV infection [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)] was evaluated in blood donations in Iran as well as for Fars province representing a low prevalence, and Sistan-Baluchestan (S&B) province as a high prevalence region throughout 1998-2007. For assessing frequency of infection, the prevalence of HBsAg per 100 000 donations and 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) is calculated. P value is estimated by chi(2) test. A total of 14 599 783 donations were collected during 10 years. The overall HBsAg prevalence rates declined from a 1.79% (1789/100 000 donations) in 1998 to 0.41% (409/100 000 donations) in 2007 in Iran. In Fars province, HBsAg prevalence decreased from 0.89% in 92 999 donations in 1998 to 0.34% in 148 014 donations in 2007 and in S&B province, the rate of HBsAg has gone down from 3.74% in 44 036 donations in 1998 to 1.15% in 56 057 donations in 2007. The frequency of HBV infection entering the blood supply has decreased over this period as a result of improvement in donor recruitment and selection, usage of software in transfusion services and possibly decreasing HBV infection prevalence in general population.

Prevalence of HBsAg and anti HCV Ab among patients with suspected acute viral hepatitis in baghdad, Iraq in 2010

“…Another study done in Iran in 2006 to find the prevalence of HBs Ag showed that it was 2.6% [17]. Turkey is considered of intermediate -high endemicity as shown by 8.2% and 6.2% prevalence of HBs Ag in rural and urban areas respectively [18].…”

Comparing the Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Stationary and Mobile Blood Donation Centers: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

“…A study showed that HBV prevalence among blood donors who had and had not completed confidential unit exclusion forms was 3.4% and 0.5%, respectively (14). HBV prevalence among blood donors is an important indicator for the evaluation of the quality of blood donation procedures, educations, and screening programs (2). Yet, there are limited comparative studies respecting the quality of blood products collected by stationary and mobile blood donation centers in southern Khorasan, Iran.…”

“…Estimates show that there are around 350 million HBV carriers in the world (12). HBV carriage rate in Iran is around 0.4% (3,13). A study showed that HBV prevalence among blood donors who had and had not completed confidential unit exclusion forms was 3.4% and 0.5%, respectively (14).…”

“…Although blood transfusion can save a million lives, an unhealthy blood transfusion can lead to devastating consequences for blood recipients, their families, and societies (2,3). One of the most prevalent and life-threatening consequences of blood transfusion is transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), mainly immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).…”

“…Each year, more than ninety million blood units are collected worldwide (1), while around one-third of the global population needs blood or blood product transfusion in their lives (2,3). The American Red Cross reported that 38,000 units of packed blood cells are transfused each day and 3.5 million people receive blood transfusion each year (4).…”