Epidemiological surveillance of blood donors and the residual risk of transmission of HIV, HTLV, HCV, and HBV through transfusion in France between 2008 and 2010.

Introduction. The objectives of the national epidemiological surveillance of blood donors are to monitor the prevalence and incidence of blood-borne infections (HIV, HTLV, HCV, and HBV), identify risk factors, and assess the residual risk of transmission of these infections through transfusion. It also contributes to the evaluation of donor selection. This article presents data from the 2008–2010 period. Methods. Prevalence rates were calculated among new donors, and incidence rates among known donors who donated at least twice during the 2008–2010 period. Residual risk was estimated using the “incidence rate/window period” model. Results. Over the 2008–2010 period, the prevalence rate of HBsAg (7.3 per 104 new donors) was 1.9 times higher than that of HCV (3.8 per 104), 9 times higher than that of HTLV (0.81 per 104), and 20 times higher than that of HIV (0.37 per 104). Conversely, HIV had the highest incidence (1.05 per 105 donor-years), but the rates are closer: 0.72 per 105 for HBV, 0.53 per 105 for HCV, and 0.19 per 105 for HTLV. The residual risk of transmitting these infections through transfusion was estimated for the 2008–2010 period at 1 in 1,350,000 donations for HBV, 1 in 2,900,000 for HIV, 1 in 3,700,000 for HTLV, and 1 in 7,000,000 for HCV. Conclusion. Thanks to the constant improvement in donor screening, advances in the biological testing of donations, and preventive measures taken in the general population to prevent these infections, the risk of transmission of HIV, HTLV, HCV, and HBV through transfusion has become very low over the past decade. These results confirm that the viral safety of labile blood products is now optimal, a message that must be widely disseminated to transfusion recipients and blood donors. (R.A.)

Author(s): Pillonel J, Legrand D, Sommen C, Laperche S

Publishing year: 2012

Pages: 438-42

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2012, n° 39-40, p. 438-42

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