A novel strategy for screening blood donors for syphilis at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana

E-ISSN： 1365-3148|26|1|63-66

ISSN： 0958-7578

Source： TRANSFUSION MEDICINE, Vol.26, Iss.1, 2016-02, pp. : 63-66

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Abstract

SUMMARY

Objective

To implement and describe a novel syphilis screening strategy for blood donors.

Background

The seroprevalence of syphilis in blood donors is often high in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) although the proportion of infectious donations is probably low. Syphilis screening may not happen at all; or the use of non‐specific screening tests, which have high false positive rates, results in many donations being discarded unnecessarily. This can have a critical effect on already inadequate blood supplies.

Materials and Methods

Blood donors were screened at the time of donation with an anti‐treponemal rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and blood collected irrespective of the result. Units screening negative for syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C were released to stock. RDT screen‐positive units were re‐tested with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) – units testing negative were released to stock and test‐positive units discarded.

Results

Of the 2213 blood donors, 182 (8·2%; 182/2213) screened positive by RDT. In addition, 38 out of these 182 (20·9%) were RPR positive on post‐donation testing. Over 2 months there was a 79% reduction in blood units discarded due to a positive syphilis screen.

Conclusion

In other LMIC, this novel strategy can contribute to improving blood safety without jeopardising blood supply.