Prevention of blood-borne HIV transmission using a decentralized approach in Shaba, Zaire

To prevent blood transfusion-acquired HIV infection with a decentralized approach to HIV screening of blood donors, using an instrument-free rapid test.

Shaba province, Zaire (496,877 km2).

The programme consisted of training health-care workers, distribution of a rapid HIV-antibody test (DuPont's HIVCHEK) for screening of all blood donations, and quality control of testing by a regional reference centre.

Over a 2-year period, 11,940 rapid tests were distributed to 37 hospitals, covering 75% of all hospital beds outside the copper mine's health system in Shaba. Eighty-five per cent of the tests were used to screen blood donors (5.4% positive test rate) and 13% to test patients (39.7% positive test rate). At least 265 cases of HIV-positive blood donation were prevented, at an estimated cost of 137-279 ECU per case. Only 26% of initially positive specimens reached the central laboratory for supplemental testing, and sterile transfusion equipment and blood-grouping reagents were frequently unavailable. The lack of transport and communications and a deteriorating health system were major constraints.

District hospitals in Africa are often long distances from major cities, difficult to reach for most of the year, and perform a small number of transfusions. In this context a classical centralized regional blood bank may not be a feasible option to ensure safe blood transfusions. However, safe blood transfusion can be achieved with a decentralized approach using a rapid test, provided that minimum standards of health-care services are available.