Alfred J. Grindon

Duration of time from onset of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infectiousness to development of detectable antibody

Background: For persons newly infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1), the time from the onset of infectivity to the development of detectable HIV‐1 antibody is unknown. Persons who donate blood during this period account for nearly all instances of HIV‐1 transmission from HIV‐1 antibody‐screened blood transfusions.

Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 p24 Antigen in U.S. Blood Donors — An Assessment of the Efficacy of Testing in Donor Screening

Abstract Background. We performed a multicenter study in 1989 to determine whether screening whole-blood donors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24 antigen would improve transfusion safety by identifying carriers of the virus who are seronegative for HIV-1 antibody. Methods. More than 500,000 donations were tested at 13 U.S. blood centers with test kits from two manufacturers. Units found repeatedly reactive were retested in a central laboratory; if the results were positive, they were confirmed by a neutralization assay. A subgroup of units was also tested for HIV-1 by the polymerase chain reaction. Selected donors confirmed or not confirmed as having p24 antigen were contacted for follow-up interviews to identify risk factors and undergo retesting for HIV-1 markers. Results. Positive tests for p24 antigen were confirmed by neutralization in five donors (0.001 percent of all donations tested), all of whom were also positive for HIV-1 antibody and HIV-1 by polymerase chain reaction. Three ...

Increased risk of a positive test for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBC) in autologous blood donors

ABSTRACT: Controversy exists about the suitability of blood from autologous donors for homologous use. We compared the infectious disease test results of 426 autologous donors, designated by donor history as suitable for homologous use, to those of 86,138 volunteer donations collected over the same 5 month period. Although donor characteristics differed, the relative risk of a positive test for anti‐HBc in the autologous group was 2.09. When 413 autologous donors were compared to 413 volunteer donors matched for age, sex, and zip code, the relative risk of a positive test for anti‐HBc in the autologous group was 3.2. If anti‐HBc is a marker for non‐A, non‐B hepatitis transmissibility, then our autologous group is not as safe as our volunteer donors. We recommend that autologous blood, even when designated by donor history and laboratory screening results as suitable for homologous transfusion, not be used for other than the intended autologous recipient.

Seroprevalence of known and putative hepatitis markers inUnited States blood donors with ALT levels at least 120 IU per L

BACKGROUND: ALT testing of blood donors was initiated as a surrogate marker for non‐A, non‐B hepatitis. Increased sensitivity of subsequent HBV and HCV tests used for standard donor screening make any residual value of ALT testing questionable.

Predictive value of past and current screening tests for syphilis in blood donors: changing from a rapid plasma reagin test to an automated specific treponemal test for screening.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the change from a rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test to an automated specific treponemal test (PK‐TP) in screening for syphilis in blood donors.

Reporting transfusion-asociated hepatitis.

Exclusion of donors implicated in transfusion‐associated hepatitis (TAH) remains important as a means of preventing this disease. By sending a six‐month follow‐up post card to the physician of every patient receiving blood, the reporting rate of TAH for one hospital has increased six times the average of the region.