[Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV I/II) seroprevalence amongst blood-donors in a hospital Bogotá, Colombia,between 1999 and 2004]. / Seroprevalencia de Anticuerpos para Virus Linfotrópicos Humanos (HTLV I/II) en donantes de sangre de una Clínica de Bogotá, Colombia. 1999-2004.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at determining anti-human T-lymphotropic virus I/II (HTLV I/II) seroprevalence amongst blood-donors at the Clínica Reina Sofía in Bogotá, Colombia between 1999 and 2004. METHODS: All people donating blood at the Clínica Reina Sofía were selected for anti-HTLV I/II testing; a survey was carried out which focused on risk factors. All blood donations were screened by using enzyme immunolinked assay (ELISA); repeatedly reactive serum samples were confirmed as being HTLV I or HTLV II by using Western blot (WB). RESULTS: 8,913 blood donors, 5,883 (66 %) males and 3,030 (34 %) females having a mean age of 37 were included in the study; 26 (0,3 %) were repeatedly reactive in ELISA tests, 6 (0,07 %) of whom were confirmed by using Western blot (WB). Our findings revealed 0,07 % HTLV seroprevalence amongst blood-donors, in line with other European and South-American countries. CONCLUSION: Although our findings suggest low HTLV I/II seroprevalence, blood-donors should be routinely screened to minimise transmission due to occult HTLV I/II infection in Colombia.

Seroprevalencia de Anticuerpos para Virus Linfotrópicos Humanos (HTLV I/II) en donantes de sangre de una Clínica de Bogotá, Colombia. 1999-2004 / Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV I/II) seroprevalence amongst blood-donors in a hospital Bogotá, Colombia,between 1999 and 2004

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos para HTLV I/II, en los donantes de sangre del Banco de Sangre de la Clínica Reina Sofía, ubicada en Bogotá, Colombia. Métodos: Fueron incluidas las muestras de todos los donantes de sangre en el período comprendido entre Abril de 1999 y Agosto de 2004. A estas muestras se les realizó un ELISA para identificación de los virus HTLV I/II; a los donantes con muestras reactivas se les tomó una nueva muestra, la cual se confirmó mediante Western blot (WB). Se analizaron las encuestas de todos los donantes con pruebas reactivas para HTLV I/II en el periodo descrito y se diligenció un formulario con las variables. Resultados: La población total de donantes de sangre estudiados en los cinco años fue de 8 913 donantes, 5 883 (66 por ciento) hombres y 3 030 (34 por ciento) mujeres, con un promedio de 37 años; de los cuales 26 (0,3 por ciento) tuvieron ELISA doblemente reactivo para HTLV I/II y, de estos, solo seis pacientes fueron confirmados mediante WB, los cuales representan una prevalencia de 0,07 por ciento Conclusión: Aunque nuestros hallazgos sugieren una baja seroprevalencia para HTLV I/II, nos permiten resaltar la importancia de implantar la prueba de detección de anticuerpos contra estos virus en todos los Bancos de Sangre del país junto con las demás pruebas que ya son indispensables según la legislación colombiana para poder suministrar sangre y hemocomponentes de calidad.

Objective: This study was aimed at determining anti-human T-lymphotropic virus I/II (HTLV I/II) seroprevalence amongst blood-donors at the Clínica Reina Sofía in Bogotá, Colombia between 1999 and 2004. Methods: All people donating blood at the Clínica Reina Sofía were selected for anti-HTLV I/II testing; a survey was carried out which focused on risk factors. All blood donations were screened by using enzyme immunolinked assay (ELISA); repeatedly reactive serum samples were confirmed as being HTLV I or HTLV II by using Western blot (WB). Results: 8 913 blood donors, 5 883 (66 percent) males and 3,030 (34 percent) females having a mean age of 37 were included in the study; 26 (0,3 percent) were repeatedly reactive in ELISA tests, 6 (0,07 percent) of whom were confirmed by using Western blot (WB). Our findings revealed 0,07 percent HTLV seroprevalence amongst blood-donors, in line with other European and South-American countries. Conclusion: Although our findings suggest low HTLV I/II seroprevalence, blood-donors should be routinely screened to minimise transmission due to occult HTLV I/II infection in Colombia.