Screening of Syphilis Using the Reverse Algorithm and its Trends Among Healthy/Asymptomatic Blood Donors: A Regional Transfusion Centre Study from Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To determine the syphilis trends by using the reverse algorithm in healthy/asymptomatic blood donors from Northern Pakistan. Study Design: Perspective longitudinal study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion (AFIT), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Sep 2022. Methodology: After taking a complete history from potential donors, an appointed blood bank doctor performed a general physical examination. Potential donors’ blood samples were tested for syphilis by the Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) method followed by reflexively testing of CMIA reactive blood samples with Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR), and results were interpreted as positive or negative. Results: A total of 56122 donors donated blood over nine months, including 55742(99.3%) males and 380(0.7%) females. Blood donors ranging from 18-65 years with a mean age of 28.82±7.1 were included in the study. Out of 56122 blood donor samples submitted, 487(0.87%) turned out to be syphilis positive by CMIA method, comprising 485(99.59%) males and 02(0.41%) females. Of 487 CMIA-positive serum samples, 216(44.3%) were RPR-positive, all male donors. Conclusion: A higher latent syphilis trend was observed in replacement non-voluntary young male donors between 18 and 40 years of age. The majority of the syphilis positives donors were male, while females made up a negligible percentage.

Keywords

• Blood donor
• Blood screening
• Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA)
• Rapid plasma retin (RPR)
• Syphilis
• Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs)