Seropositivity of Hepatitis C Infection among Voluntary and Replacement Blood Donors in a Tertiary-care Hospital in Punjab

Background: Blood transfusion is the main source for the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other related infections throughout the world. These infections are more common in replacement donors than in voluntary blood donors. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate various demographic and etiological factors for the transmission of HCV infection among voluntary and replacement blood donors. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 5000 healthy blood donors (3261 replacement and 1739 voluntary donors) in Amritsar to know HCV seropositivity in the region, and to compare it in relation to type of donor and various demographic and etiologic factors. All blood samples were tested for anti-HCV antibody by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of the study were analyzed statistically using 2-test. Results: HCV seropositivity among 5000 donors was found to be 0.98%, which was significantly lower in voluntary than in replacement donors (0.23 vs. 1.37%). Maximum HCV seropositivity was seen in 30to 39-year age group in both voluntary and replacement donors. Rural blood donors had higher seropositivity than urban donors. Most prevalent risk factor was injection drug use followed by tattooing, sharing shaving kits or roadside barber visits, and multiple sex partners. Conclusion: The study concluded that voluntary blood donations are safer and free from risk of transmitting infectious agents, so an effort to increase voluntary blood donation should be made.