Blood Donor Serological Screening in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A 7-Year Retrospective Study on Transfusion-Transmitted Infections.

Introduction

Screening donated blood for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) is a critical component of transfusion safety, particularly in high-demand regions such as Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. This study is aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of TTI markers among blood donors at King Abdulaziz Hospital-Makkah (KAHM) over a 7-year period.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 17,661 individuals who donated blood at the KAHM, Saudi Arabia, from January 2017 to December 2023, were included. The prevalence of TTI markers was assessed and categorized by year, gender, age, type of donors (whole blood and apheresis), and category of donation (replacement and volunteer). In addition to ABO group testing, commercially available kits were used for serological tests.

Results

Among donors, 74 (0.42%) were reactive for HBsAg, 1419 (8.03%) for HBcAb, and 1295 (7.33%) for HBsAb. Other reactive cases included HCV (0.29%), HIV (0.06%), HTLV-I/II (0.05%), and syphilis (0.44%). No cases of malaria were reported. Statistically significant variations were observed across years for HBsAg (p = 0.007), HBsAb, and HBcAb (p < 0.001), suggesting changes in infection exposure, immunity, or donor screening efficiency. Male donors represented 97.17% of the cohort, and replacement donors were more prevalent (54.75%) than volunteers.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in Makkah was low, affirming the effectiveness of current screening protocols. However, the relatively high prevalence of hepatitis B core antibodies indicates prior exposure among a notable proportion of donors. Yearly fluctuations in seropositivity suggest evolving epidemiological patterns, warranting continuous surveillance and targeted public health interventions.