Demographic Factors Among HIV Confirmed Blood Donors from 2013 to 2021 in Shenzhen

Abstract

Background

New HIV (Human immune deficiency virus) infections are continuously increasing in China and it remains a huge challenge to blood donation. As access to health services has affected by COVID-19 (Corona virus disease 2019) pandemic, a drop in new diagnoses (especially HIV) was observed worldwide.

Methods

During 2013–2021, 735,247 specimens from unpaid blood donors collected by Shenzhen Blood Center underwent ELISA (Enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay) and NAT (Nucleic acid test). Samples with reactivity results were sent to the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention for WB (Western blot). All data were statistically analyzed by the Chi-Square test.

Results

From 2013 to 2021, the prevalence of HIV among male blood donors was higher than in females (P < 0.01). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of HIV among repeat blood donors decreased significantly compared to 2019 (P < 0.05), and the characteristics of blood donors changed in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2021.

Conclusion

The high proportion of female blood donors would help prevent HIV from getting into the blood supply. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the demographics of blood donors as well as the prevalence of HIV among repeat blood donors. An increased number of repeat blood donors can help decrease the risk of HIV transfusion transmission during the epidemic.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Shenzhen
• blood donors
• HIV

Data Sharing Statement

All data generated or analysed during this study were included in this published article.

Ethics Approval

This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Blood Center. The informed consent was obtained from all subjects, and all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the Medical Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Blood Center for reviewing and approving all the procedures involved in this study. Special thanks to the staff of Tangshan Qiao Technology Co., Ltd. for helping us collect data. We also take this opportunity to thank all members of this project, for their commitment and contribution during the performance of this study. All authors thank the Shenzhen blood center for the permission to publish the finding.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by Shenzhen Key Discipline Project of Blood Transfusion Medicine (SZXK070), the Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (No. SZSM201811092).