Prevalence of HIV and VDRL seropositivity in blood donors of Delhi.

Blood transfusion has been the transmission mechanism in 15 per cent of total patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A few reports are available regarding the trend of HIV seropositivity in northern India. Prevalence of VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory) reactivity varies from 0.8-15 per cent in blood donors. We present data on the prevalence and trends of infection with HIV 1 and 2 and VDRL reactivity in blood donors in Delhi. Between 2000-2002, a total of 76089 (voluntary and replacement) donors were screened. Majority (82.4%) were replacement donors. Seropositivity for HIV and VDRL was seen in 0.54 and 2.6 per cent of donors respectively. The percentage of seropositivity for HIV and VDRL was significantly higher in replacement donors (P<0.001). It is suggested that extensive donor selection and a voluntary donor service would reduce the number of infectious donors significantly. Non-renumerated repeat voluntary donor services are urgently required to lower the prevalence of transmissible infections. While the need to change to a voluntary donor service and devising effective donor screening cannot be over emphasized, there is also a need to mandate HIV antigen detection in India.

[1]  M. Naveed,et al.  Serological monitoring of thalassaemia major patients for transfusion associated viral infections. , 1998, The Indian journal of medical research.

[2]  K. Chatterjee,et al.  Markers for Transfusion‐Transmissible Infections in North Indian Voluntary and Replacement Blood Donors: Prevalence and Trends 1989–1996 , 1997, Vox sanguinis.

[3]  S. Kleinman,et al.  The Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Viral Infections , 1996 .

[4]  R. Makroo,et al.  Trends of HIV infection in the blood donors of Delhi. , 1996, Indian journal of pathology & microbiology.

[5]  J. Wali,et al.  Sociodemographic characteristics of HIV infection in northern India. , 1995, The Journal of communicable diseases.

[6]  G. Keusch,et al.  A review of human immunodeficiency virus infection in India. , 1994, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

[7]  J. Bongaarts,et al.  AIDS in the world. , 1993 .

[8]  F. DiNola.  [AIDS in the world]. , 1991, Sykepleien. Fag.

[9]  J. Ward,et al.  Risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission by blood transfusions before the implementation of HIV‐1 antibody screening , 1991, Transfusion.

[10]  P. Prasad,et al.  HIV seropositivity among patients with sexually transmitted diseases in Vellore. , 1990, The Indian journal of medical research.

[11]  N. Marwaha,et al.  Prevalence of markers of transfusion transmissible diseases in voluntary and replacement blood donors. , 2004, The National medical journal of India.

[12]  D. Chattopadhya,et al.  Behavioural risk factors for acquisition of HIV infection and knowledge about AIDS among male professional blood donors in Delhi. , 1991, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.