Human immunodeficiency virus infection related to blood transfusion service

The prevalence of transmissible viruses, human immunodeficiency (HIV) and hepatitis B (HBV) in blood donors, recipients and blood bank staff in a Calcutta (eastern India) based blood bank and transfusion centre has been studied from 1987-93. HIV seropositivity of blood donors was of recent emergence and was low. Recipients of blood and blood components frequently i.e., haemophilics showed a progressive increase in HIV seropositivity since 1988 whereas in thalassaemics the emergence of HIV seropositivity was noted only in 1992. Blood bank staff were seronegative. HBV which has a similar portal of entry as HIV, had a higher prevalence in blood donors, recipients of blood/components and blood bank staff.