NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION TESTING IN BLOOD SCREENING: RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 5 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

K.S. MURTHY¹, C. PRAGATI²*
¹Managing Director, Dhanwantari Voluntary Blood Bank & Blood Components, Danavaipeta, Rajahmundry, 533103, Andhra Pradesh, India
²Professor, Department of Microbiology, GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry, 533296, Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, 520004, Andhra Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : ch.pragatisb@gmail.com

Received : 02-03-2020     Accepted : 27-03-2020     Published : 30-03-2020
Volume : 12     Issue : 3       Pages : 1794 - 1797
Int J Microbiol Res 12.3 (2020):1794-1797

Keywords : Transfusion transmitted infections, MP-NAT, ELISA
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Professor, Department of Microbiology, GSL Medical College & General Hospital, Rajahmundry, 533296, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, 520004, Andhra Pradesh, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Introduction: The prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs) is high in India. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sero-prevalence of TTIs in blood bank at Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh, India) since 2010. Materials and Methods: A total 89,639 units of blood donated at our blood bank till date. The sero-prevalence for HIV, HBV and HCV was tested by 4th generation ELISA. Only sero-negative samples were tested on mini pool nucleic acid test (MP-NAT) to detect HIV1, HIV2, HCV and HBV viral nucleic acids. Combined NAT yield was calculated and compared the NAT yield with MPX test and MPX V2.0. We also evaluated the optical density (OD) values of ELISA for MP-NAT reactive donor samples to evaluate the efficacy of NAT in detecting window period cases. Results: The overall sero-prevalence of TTIs was 2.41% and HBV was predominantly present (66%). Total 29 ELISA negative blood donor samples were found reactive on NAT. All NAT reactive donors were of HBV only. Out of 29 cases, 12 were detected by MPX test from 26,008 donations and 17 by MPX V2.0 from 25,619 donations, providing NAT yield of 1:2169 and 1:1507 respectively. OD and Signal cut off values of ELISA for NAT reactive samples were found to be much below extended grey zone value (<0.3). Conclusion: Additional testing of nucleic acids by MP-NAT in combination of mandated primary serology by ELISA provides 99.99% of safe blood to needy patients; thus significantly reduces the risk of TTIs by identifying the window period cases.

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