Seroprevalence of Blood-borne Viral Infections among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India

Introduction: Transfusion of blood and its components is a life- saving manoeuvre but has life threatening hazards as well. Blood Service (BTS) covered by “Drug Cosmetics Act” legal implications. Hence, strict criteriae are followed while selecting donor, particularly emphasising on Transmissible Infections (TTI), which may improve safe transfusion practices. Aim: To study the seroprevalence Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B (HBV) C (HCV) among Voluntary Donors (VD) in centre, tertiary care hospital, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. Materials Methods: The present was retrospective observational done for four consecutive years from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2020. Data all donors screened HIV, HBV HCV retrieved records Gulbarga Institute Medical Sciences (GIMS) Centre, GIMS Hospital, results were tabulated analysed using descriptive statistics.. Results: Total units taken 15,466 VDs. There 96.8% (14,966/15,466) male 3.2% (500/15,466) female donors. overall seropositivity HBV, HIV 1.8%, 0.006% 0.12%, respectively. highest TTI found be age group 18-30 (169 donors; 55.6%) 31-40 (103 33.9%). Conclusion: This shows increasing trend total donation. Strict selection retention voluntary low-risk recommended safety. Use highly sensitive screening tests like Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) technology implemented centres possibly reduce incidence TTI.