Objective: Study the prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections in donated blood after the well-planned safe blood donation strategy.

Material and Method: Retrospective data of blood donation to the Blood Bank Unit of Thammasat University Hospital, between 2007 and 2012 was reviewed and studied the trend after the implementation of a well-planned safe blood donation strategy in 2010. This strategy included well planned active campaign, donor selection and screening process. The blood was analyzed according to age, sex, first time blood donation, and repeated blood donation, for transfusion transmitted infection by using CMIA for HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and Syphilis. Sequential test was done for NAT for HIV, HBV, and HCV. The data were analyzed by percentage and Chi-square test.

Results: The amount of blood donation increased 83.18%, from 7,792 units in 2007 to 14,273 units in 2012, including an increase of 314% at the mobile site donation. The increasing amounts were donated from the lower positive prevalence groups:- repeated blood donors, female blood donors, 17 to 20 years old first time blood donors in greater proportion than the higher positive prevalence groups (p<0.001). Prevalence of infection-donated-blood decreased in the last three years (2010 to 2012), compared to the first three years (2007 to 2009), 0.14-0.18%, 0.52-0.82%, 0.10-0.17%, and 0.21-0.32% vs. 0.26-0.28%, 0.97-1.42%, 0.26-0.42%, and 0.35-0.53% for HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and Syphilis respectively (p<0.001). Prevalence of infection-donated-blood also decreased in all groups in the last three years, compared to the first three years (p<0.001). Prevalence of repeated donation from previous-positive-infectious-markers-blood-donors also decreased.

Conclusion: The increasing amount of blood donation with decreasing prevalence of transfusion transmitted infection indicates a well planned active campaign, an improving donor selection and screening strategy in safe blood donation service.

Keywords: Blood donation, Prevalence of HIV, HBsAg, HCV, Syphilis