Decline of Hepatitis B Virus in Iranian Blood Donors in the Last Decade (2001-2010)

Background and Aims: This study was the trends of Hepatitis B infection among Iranian blood donors which was analyzed in a period of 10 years. Materials and Methods: In a period of 10 years, from 2001 through 2010, a total of 16,264,830 donations from 30 regional and 35 local blood services were screened. All blood samples were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) by commercial available kits. Sistan-Baluchestan (S&B) province representing a high prevalence and Fars province was a low prevalence area. For assessing frequency of infection, the prevalence of HBS Ag per 100 000 donations and 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test and considered significant if P value was <0.05. Results: The prevalence rates of HBs Ag dramatically declined from 1.23% in 2001 to 0.25% in 2010 in Iran. In S&B province HBs Ag prevalence decreased from 3.29% in 2001 to 0.66% in 2010 and in Fars province, the rate of HBs Ag decreased from 0.82% in 2001 to 0.12% in 2010. In this period, the number of donation progressively increased from 1361321 donation in 2001 to 1889851 donation in 2010, P v <0.00001. The number of volunteer donations increased from 92% in 2001 to 100% in 2010. Conclusion: The findings indicated that an appropriate implementation of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) programs such as the selection of blood donors/ donor recruitment, increasing non-remunerated repeat donors, routine screening for blood borne viruses, replacement donation exclusion, and implementation of automation are being performed.