Residual risk assessment in the window period of nucleic acid testing for transfusion transmitted disease in Hainan

Objective To analyze the nucleic acid testing(NAT) results of voluntary blood donors in Hainan and evaluate the residual risk in the window period of NAT for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods A retrospective analysis on the NAT results of voluntary blood donors at our center from January 2012 to December 2022 was conducted. The new infection rate-window period residual risk model was used to assess the residual risk of HBV, HCV and HIV among blood donors. Results From January 2012 to December 2022, among the blood donated by voluntary blood donors in Hainan, 45.02% (522 684/1 161 042) were collected from first-time donors, 54.98% (638 358/1 161 042) were from repeat donors (including regular donors), and 30.48% (354 227/1 162 042) were from regular donors. The total reactive rate of NAT was 0.19% (2 151/1 161 042). After NAT, the residual risk in the window period of HBV, HCV and HIV was 62.54 per million, 0.431 per million and 0.791 per million, respectively. Conclusion The implementation of NAT among voluntary blood donors in Hainan significantly reduces the residual risk of HCV, and the residual risk of HBV, HCV and HIV transmission in the window period is at a relatively low level.