Trends of HIV infection in the blood donors of Delhi
Makroo, R.N.; Salil, P.; Vashist, R.P.; Shivlal
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology 39(2): 139-142
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-4929 PMID: 9401244 Document Number: 307623
Since 1989, screening of all blood collected for transfusion for HIV has been mandatory in Delhi, India. Blood collected at Delhi's 29 blood banks is sent to 1 of 10 zonal blood testing centers. About 90% of blood donors are men 20-40 years of age. Only about 20% of donors are voluntary; 35% of blood is contributed by paid professional donors and the remaining 45% by replacement donors. The HIV seropositivity rates per 1000 samples screened among voluntary donors were 0.63, 0.45, 1.9, 3.03, and 3.87 in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993, respectively. Among replacement donors, these rates were 0.46, 0.50, 1.9, 5.24, and 7.48, respectively. Among professional donors, these rates were 1.50, 0.90, 1.3, 3.28, and 3.76, respectively. Notable is the significant increase in HIV infection in replacement donors. It is speculated that this trend represents a tendency for many professional donors to present as replacement donors to obtain payment directly from a patient's family rather than the blood bank. If voluntary blood donors are representative of the general male adult population, HIV prevalence appears to be steadily increasing in Delhi and continued blood screening is certainly warranted.