Serological screening in donors in Mexico: advances and technology

The residual risk of transfusion-related infections has decreased dramatically in countries that have routinely implemented serological screening. Most of the donation in Mexico is from replacement practice, a risk factor for positive serology. In Mexico, the altruistic donation is only 2.7%. The heterogeneity of technical factors, regional factors and internal policies of each center influences the variability of data on the prevalence of positive screening, as well as the prevalence of confirmed cases. The main advantage of nucleic acid technology is the detection of donors in the period of serological window or occult infections, being occult hepatitis reports in Mexican donors from 1 to 3.4%. The limitation of available technology, the scope of the clinic and perspectives, invites us to improve technology and health policies in the interest of transfusion safety.