Evaluation of the Main Infectious Markers in Family Blood Donors at the Chad-China Friendship Hospital (HATC) in N’Djamena, Chad

In Chad, the majority of blood donations are family-based, so regular serosurveillance of donors for transmissible infectious agents is essential to ensure transfusion safety. The main infectious agents sought in donors are the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C viruses, and Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis. The main objective of the study was to determine the seropositivity rate of the main markers in donors in order to ensure transfusion safety at the Chad-China Friendship Hospital in N’Djamena, Chad. It was carried out during the period from January 2014 to December 2019 and is retrospective, prospective and cross-sectional, using blood bank records and information from consenting donors using a standardized form. The serological tests performed were Determine HIV1/2, SD BILONE 1/2 (HIV), HBsAg rapid test SD Bioline (HBV), Rapid test first response Ab (HCV), RPR, B/25 (T. Pallidum). A total of 18,570 donors were identified, with a sex ratio of 6.84 in favor of men. The average age was 35.5 ± 4.5 years. The overall seropositivity rate for infectious markers was (1467/18,570) (7.9%), with (236/18,750) (1.2%) for HIV, (1019/18,570) (5.4%) for hepatitis B (HBV), (26/18,570) (0.1%) for hepatitis C (HCV) and (186/18,570) (1%) for syphilis. Male sex (16203/18,570) (87.25%) and the 26 - 35 age group (7604/18,570) (40.95%) were significantly more represented. Family blood donation remains one of the means used to save human lives in countries with limited resources. In order to ensure the safety of blood transfusions for patients, it is necessary to systematically test for the main markers recommended by the WHO. At the Chad-China Friendship Hospital, where blood donation is mainly family-based, it is therefore essential to strengthen the system of serosurveillance for infectious markers in donors, and to focus the national transfusion policy on voluntary and regular blood donation.