Epidemiologic characteristics of blood donors with antibody to human immunodeficiency virus

From March 1985 through July 1986, blood donors who were positive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were evaluated at three major blood centers in the United States. Of 818,629 donations, 450 (0.05%) were HIV antibody-positive. The seroprevalence decreased from 0.07 to 0.04 percent during the study period, due perhaps to a decline in repeat donors. HIV-seropositive donors tended to be 20 to 29 years old (52%) and male (88%). HIV seroprevalence among white donors (2/10,000 donations) was less than that among Hispanic (9/10,000; p less than 0.0001) and black donors (31/10,000; p less than 0.0001). Of 152 seropositive men interviewed, 77 percent reported sexual contact with men; of this latter group, 53 percent were bisexual. Fifteen (44%) of 34 seropositive women had apparently acquired infection from heterosexual contact, and an equal number denied having any known risk factors for HIV infection. Educational efforts must address women and bisexual men who do not perceive themselves to be at risk for HIV infection and should be specifically designed for the mores of different racial and ethnic groups.