Prevalence of seropositivity for Trypanosoma cruzi in blood donors: A 10‐year analysis in southern Brazil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major public health challenge in Latin America and is increasingly gaining global relevance. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of T. cruzi seropositivity among blood donors at the Hemotherapy Service of Hospital São Vicente de Paulo in Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil, between 2012 and 2022, and to identify the associated sociodemographic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive-analytical study based on laboratory and epidemiological records. A total of 148,378 blood donations were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of the total donations, 206 (0.14%) showed reactive or indeterminate results for T. cruzi. The majority of donors were male (54.4%) and under 30 years old (35.0%). Individuals with primary education had a higher proportion of reactive results (p = 0.013), and a higher frequency of false positives was observed among younger individuals (p = 0.025). Prevalence remained stable throughout the study period with no significant peaks. The results reinforce the importance of systematic serological screening as an essential tool for transfusion safety and epidemiological surveillance. CONCLUSION: Although disease prevalence remains low, sociodemographic and educational factors influence seropositivity, highlighting the need for educational actions and the improvement of diagnostic methods.