The referral frequency of blood donors positive in HIV, HBV, and HCV screening tests after being called for and reasons for their non-return

Informing and counseling donors with positive Transfusion Transmitted Infection (TTI) is essential for preventing them from donating blood in future, and starting treatment for reducing complications. So, we evaluated the referral of reactive donors.

This cross sectional study was conducted in Shiraz Blood Transfusion Center over a period of 2.5 years involving 214 reactive donors. The reactive donors were informed by three time telephone calls, one letter, and another telephone call in case of non-return. A trained counselor informed donors regarding abnormal tests and advised to refer to the respective disease clinics of the hospital for further management. The response rate of TTIs reactive donors after notification of their abnormal test results was surveyed according to the demographic status.

Of the 214 TTIs marker-reactive donors, we did not access 10 (4.67%) persons. So, we contacted 204 ones (81 positive for hepatitis C, 117 for hepatitis B, and 6 for HIV). Among 204 reactive donors, 137(67.15%) were referred  out of whom 86 ones (42.15%) were referred after the first call. The response rate was more in educated ones. The response rate was not related to age, gender, and type of reactive tests. Among non-responded reactive donors, the major reasons were, not having enough time, travelling, and long distance.

In this study, the response of reactive blood donors were 67.15%. For better response rate, having the  precise  donor  registry and  informing donors regarding the importance of blood safety and TTI are necessary.