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Published on: March 13, 2015
Prevalence of viral markers among first-time Arab blood donors in Kuwait
Reem Ameen1, Nabil Sanad, Salem Al-Shemmari
1Medical Laboratory Sciences Department and the Health Information and Administration Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, and the Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. reemameen@hotmail.com
Insights
First-time blood donors in Kuwait showed a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among non-Kuwaiti Arabs. Replacement donors had a higher HCV prevalence than volunteers, indicating a need for targeted screening strategies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Assessing viral marker prevalence in blood donors is crucial for transfusion safety.
- Understanding demographic variations in infectious disease markers informs public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of blood donation methods on viral marker prevalence in first-time Arab donors in Kuwait.
- To compare viral marker rates between replacement and volunteer donors, and between Kuwaiti nationals and non-Kuwaiti Arabs.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 26,874 donors for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc), and HIV antibodies.
- Analysis of 12,798 first-time donors, categorized by donation mode (74% replacement, 26% volunteer) and ethnic background (Kuwaiti nationals vs. non-Kuwaiti Arabs).
- Testing of anti-HBc positive samples for anti-HBs to assess prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure and immunity.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence was significantly higher in replacement donors compared to volunteers.
- Non-Kuwaiti Arab first-time donors exhibited significantly higher prevalence rates for anti-HCV, HBsAg, and anti-HBc compared to Kuwaiti nationals.
- A notable 13.7% of first-time donors tested positive for anti-HBs, suggesting prior HBV exposure and potential immunity in a significant portion of the donor pool.
Conclusions:
- A substantial prevalence of HBV and HCV was identified among non-Kuwaiti Arab blood donors.
- The higher anti-HCV rates in replacement donors underscore the importance of donation type in screening.
- Developing a strategic blood donor health plan considering the diverse ethnic backgrounds in Kuwait is recommended to enhance transfusion safety.
Background:
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of blood donation modes on the prevalence of viral markers among Arab first-time blood donors in Kuwait.
Study Design And Methods:
Donor ethnic background was classified as Kuwaiti nationals and non-Kuwaiti Arabs. A total of 26,874 donors were screened in 2002 for the following viral markers: hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc), human immunodeficiency virus-1 and -2 antibody (anti-HIV-1 and -2), HIV p24, and human T lymphotropic virus-I and -II antibody (anti-HTLVI/II). All samples positive for the presence of anti-HBc were tested for anti-HBs. Among these donors, 12,798 were first-time donors of which 74 percent were replacement and 26 percent were volunteers.
Results:
The prevalence of HCV among replacement donors was significantly higher than the volunteer group. The difference between the two modes of blood donations, however, was not significant for HBsAg. The prevalence of anti-HCV among Kuwaiti national and non-Kuwaiti Arab first-time donors was 0.8 and 5.4 percent, respectively, whereas the prevalence of HBsAg was 1.1 and 3.5 percent, respectively, with the difference being significant at a p level of <0.0001. The difference observed for prevalence of anti-HBc among Kuwaiti national and non-Kuwaiti Arab donors (17 and 33.3%, respectively) was significant (p < 0.0001). Among first-time donors, 13.7 percent were positive for the presence of anti-HBs, indicating that 13.7 percent of the total Arab donor population might have had a previous infection and possible immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Conclusion:
A high prevalence of HBV and HCV was found among non-Kuwaiti Arab donors. The prevalence of anti-HCV was only significantly higher among replacement versus volunteer first-time donors. Therefore, there is a need to develop a strategic plan that incorporates the diverse background of the blood donors living in Kuwait.
