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Invisible threats: How to prevent the spread of HIV and other viruses during blood transfusions through technological testing?
Transfusion infectious diseases (TTI) refer to viruses, parasites, or potential pathogens that can be transmitted through blood transfusions. Not all of these pathogens cause disease, but their presence is undoubtedly an invisible threat to patients. At the same time, a series of measures against these pathogens are constantly being advanced to ensure the safety of blood transfusions.
Strategies to prevent transfusion-transmitted diseases include screening of blood donors, testing blood for pathogens, and importing blood from safe sources.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most well-known transfusion infectious diseases, the consequence of which is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV testing has undergone significant changes driven by technology. In addition to traditional antibody testing, new methods such as nucleic acid testing (NAT) and p24 antigen testing have also been introduced, making it possible to identify newly infected individuals early.
Current status of virus screening
The current main screening methods are divided into three categories: antibody tests, nucleic acid tests and alternative tests. Antibody tests are mainly used to detect the immune system's response to infection, while nucleic acid tests directly detect the genetic material of the virus. Such composite testing can effectively reduce the number of pathogens hidden in blood transfusions.
These testing methods rely on rigorous standards, but high-risk activities remain an important consideration when assessing donor risk.
High-risk behaviors, including unsafe sexual behavior and sharing needles, may pose a threat to the safety of blood donation. Take HIV transmission as an example, especially related to contact with high-risk groups, which is often the reason why blood donors are excluded. The complexity of this issue is that guidance and public perceptions of high-risk behavior vary widely from country to country.
HIV Risks and Testing
As the most widely concerned blood transfusion infectious disease, the impact of HIV is evident. Very famous cases include Ryan White and Damon Courtenay in the United States, and there are countless stories of infections through blood transfusions. Therefore, HIV testing has become more important and urgent.
The standard test for HIV uses enzyme immunoassay. Although this technology is relatively reliable, it still has the risk of a window period.
During this window, patients may have been infected but still failed to show an antibody response on a test, making the crude testing methods used in the past unable to guarantee full safety. Therefore, the introduction of newer nucleic acid detection technology has become a solution that can improve the identification of latent infections. This makes it possible to detect the possibility of viral spread as early as possible.
Risks of other common viruses
In addition to HIV, there are other viruses, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and screening for these viruses is also crucial.
The risks and modes of transmission of each pathogen are different, leading to a diversity of targeted screening strategies, especially in areas with high rates of infectious diseases.
This has triggered a focus of discussion - how to better improve screening standards in various regions to deal with the risks posed by growing international travel and mobile populations? In any case, we must consider not only the technical challenges, but also how to educate and alert the public about the risks of blood transfusion infectious diseases such as HIV.
How to use technology to improve screening capabilities
Advances in technology, especially the application of data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), have accelerated the pace of screening. Through machine learning algorithms, the risk of infection can be further analyzed and more personalized recommendations can be provided to donors. At the same time, new testing technologies are constantly being introduced to ensure the diversity of screening methods to adapt to the changing environment.
Effective screening programs must consider multiple factors, including epidemiological, sociocultural, and ethical issues.
Because the risks faced by blood donors in different regions vary, when a new screening technology is proposed, the relevant public health policies and their implementation should also change accordingly. How to accurately judge is obviously a subject that cannot be ignored with current technological progress.
Faced with invisible threats, can we find more effective ways to deal with the crisis of blood transfusion infectious diseases with the help of technology?
