Prevalence of transfusion-associated viral infections and syphilis among blood donors in Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Abstract

Donor blood including that from HIV-seronegative donors, has high frequency of HCV, HBV, and syphilis antibodies but not anti-HTLV-1. A significant association exists in the occurrence of HIV, HBV and syphilis; and due to the association of syphilis and HIV, clients with history of sexually transmitted disease should be excluded during donor selection. From these observations were recommend: (i) routine screening of donor blood for HIV, HCV, HBV, and syphilis antibodies but not HTLV-1 and; (ii) a larger study to generate more accurate estimates of the magnitude the transfusion-transmissible infectious diseases.