Prevalence of NS1 Dengue Antigen among Blood Donors In Perak and Penang

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Date
2016-06
Authors
Mohamed Yusuf, Mohd Faizal
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Dengue virus is one of the emerging agents that can be transmitted via blood transfusion from infected blood donors to recipients. In Malaysia, the increase in dengue infection may contribute to the existence of asymptomatic blood donors and increase the risk of blood transfusions contaminated with this virus. Thus, the objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of NS1 dengue antigen among blood donors and ascertain the demographic data of blood donors in Penang and Perak. A total of 374 voluntary blood donors were recruited from two blood donation campaigns organised by Hospital Pulau Pinang, Penang and Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak from April to May 2016. From each centre, 187 voluntary blood donors were enrolled, blood was collected and Dengue NS1 Ag was screened on all the samples. The study showed, all 374 samples were found to be negative for the Dengue NS1 antigen. The mean age for blood donors was 36 years. Blood group O Rh positive blood group was the commonest (42%, 157 of the total blood donors) followed by B Rh positive blood group (29.7 %, 111 of the total blood donors), A Rh positive (23.5%, 88 of the total blood donors) and AB Rh positive (4.8%, 18 of the total blood donors). There were more male blood donors (64.7%) compared to female blood donors (35.3%). Majority of these blood donors were Chinese (338 blood donors), followed by Malays (27 blood donors) and Indians (9 blood donors). In conclusion, there is no NS1 dengue antigen detected among blood donors in two blood collection centres in Penang and Perak. This indicates that none of the blood donor at the time of donation was in viraemic stage which translates that the established donor screening program is effective to ensure that dengue transmission through transfusion is minimal. Demographic data of these blood donors showed that the most common blood group was O Rh positive, men donated more than women and Chinese blood donors were the commonest. Data collected in this study may be useful to ascertain the safety aspects of clinical transfusion and in the planning of blood donation activities, donor recruitment and blood inventory management.
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Keywords
The prevalence of NS1 dengue antigen , among blood donors
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