High Sero-prevalence of Transfusion Transmitted Infections among Prisoner Blood Donors from Punjab Prisons

Abstract

Objective: Prisoners as a high risk group are never recommended for blood donations. In
Pakistan, prisoners are legally allowed to donate blood and get thirty days extra remission. In
Pakistan, there is not much published data on prisoner blood donors.
The study aimed to estimate the sero prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Syphilis among physically healthy prisoner blood
donors in prisons of Punjab.
Material and Methods: A retrospective review of record of all prisoner donors who donated
blood during camps from January 2007 to December, 2009 was carried out in January 2010.
Physically fit prisoner donors were tested for HCV, HBV, HIV and Syphilis by rapid test kits before
donation. Those found negative for these infections were allowed to donate blood. Donated blood
was retested for anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg by ELlSAand syphilis by VDRL.
Results:Atotal of 3,074 prisoner donors were tested. 3050 (99%) donors were male. Mean age
was 28 years (17-57 yr). Among prisoners, 235 (7.6%) were positive for HCV, 114 (3.7%) for
Syphilis, 111 (3.6%) for HBV and 21 (0.7%) for HIV. Among these, 434 (14%) were positive for at
least one of these infections. Three females (12.5%) were positive for syphilis and one (4.14%) for
hepatitis B.
Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis is higher in prison donors as
compared to blood donors from general population. So prison inmates constitute a very high risk
group among blood donors. Stringent screening of blood donors and even testing of donated
blood by highly sensitive tests is recommended. We also recommend further studies and then
modify blood donation laws accordingly.