Use of Blood Donor Screening to Monitor Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis B and C Viruses, South Africa

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Sep;23(9):1560-1563. doi: 10.3201/eid2309.161594.

Abstract

Among 397,640 first-time blood donors screened in South Africa during 2012-2015, HIV prevalence was 1.13%, hepatitis B virus prevalence 0.66%, and hepatitis C virus prevalence 0.03%. Findings of note were a high HIV prevalence in Mpumalanga Province and the near absence of hepatitis C virus nationwide.

Keywords: HIV; South Africa; blood donors; hepatitis; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; prevalence; viruses.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Donors*
  • Blood Transfusion
  • DNA, Viral / blood*
  • Donor Selection / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • HIV / classification
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV / isolation & purification
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Hepacivirus / classification
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis B / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / classification
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • South Africa / epidemiology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA, Viral