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Multicenter evaluation of individual donor nucleic acid testing (NAT) for simultaneous detection of human immunodeficiency virus -1 & hepatitis B & C viruses in Indian blood donors
Reprint requests: Dr R.N. Makroo, Director, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044, India. e-mail: makroo@apollohospitals.com/ raj_makroo@hotmail.com
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Abstract
Background & objectives:
India has a high prevalence of HIV-1, hapatitis C and B virus (HCV and HBV) in the blood donors but has yet to implement nucleic acid testing (NAT) in blood screening. We undertook a multicentre evaluation of blood donor testing by NAT for simultaneous detection of HIV-1, HBV and HCV in a single tube and also to determine the feasibility of NAT implementation in India's low volume setting.
Methods:
A total of 12,224 unlinked samples along with their serological results were obtained from representative eight blood banks in India and were individually manually tested by the Procleix® Ultrio® Assay (Chiron Corp. Emeryville, CA) for simultaneous detection of HIV-1, HCV, and HBV.
Results:
Of the 12,224 samples tested, 209 (1.71%) were seroreactive. One hundred thirty three samples (1.09%) were reactive by Ultrio assay, 84 samples were seroreactive but NAT non reactive. There were eight NAT yield cases: 1 HIV, 1 HIV-HCV co-infection, and 6 HBV.
Interpretation & conclusions:
Our observed NAT yield for all three viruses was 1 in 1528 (0.065%). We estimate NAT could interdict 3272 infectious donations a year among our approximate 5 million annual donations.
