HIV prevalence and Western blot analysis of voluntary blood donors in Wuhu area / 中国输血杂志

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To investigate the confirmatory status of HIV-1 antibody detection and Western blot (WB) test among voluntary blood donors in Wuhu, and to explore the strategies and methods to further ensure blood quality and safety. 【Methods】 Blood samples were preliminarily screened by ELISA and NAT, and the reactive samples were sent to Wuhu CDC for further WB test of HIV-1 antibody. The confirmation results of HIV-1 antibodies of voluntary blood donors in Wuhu in the past 10 years were retrospectively collected. The characteristics of WB bands of positive samples were analyzed, and the demographic characteristics of HIV-infected voluntary blood donors were sorted out. 【Results】 A total of 354 864 blood samples from voluntary blood donors in Wuhu during January 2011 to May 2021 were investigated, among which 42 were confirmed HIV positive (HIV-1 antibody positive in 41, and solo HIV-RNA reactive in 1), with a total HIV positive rate of 11.8/100 000(42/354 864). Statistical differences were found in gender [males 97.6% (41/42) vs females 2.4% (1/42)], marital status [unmarried 17.3/100 000 vs married 8.0/100 000] and occupation [staff/workers 37.5/100 000 vs students11.4/100 000 vs others 7.7/100 000]. Among the positive samples, the yield rate of WB bands gp160 was 100% (41/41), both gp41 and p24 were 97.6% (40/41),, and p55 was the lowest 46.3% (19/41). P51 and P66 presented the highest yield consistency (Kappa=1.000, P5 000 cps/mL by viral load (VL) testing, indicating HIV window period infection. 【Conclusion】 HIV infection statistically affected male donors more than females in Wuhu area, and most were early infection that revealed by WB band analysis. NAT plays an important role in the detection and confirmation of HIV infection during the window period, and is essential for blood safety.