Human immunodeficiency virus‐1 and hepatitis C virus RNA among South African blood donors: estimation of residual transfusion risk and yield of nucleic acid testing

Abstract

Implementation of routine NAT blood screening would allow elimination of HIV-1 p24 antigen testing and improve the safety of the blood supply in South Africa. However, the cost-benefit ratio of introducing such an expensive technology in a country with a limited health budget will have to be carefully considered.