A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO EXCLUDE DONORS WITH POTENTIAL HIV INFECTION FROM BLOOD DONATIONS

• Published in: Journal of the Japan Society of Blood Transfusion Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 320 - 326
• Main Authors: Takenaka, Michiko, Shimizu, Masaru, Ikeda, Hisami, Kamiya, Tadashi, Inoue, Chikako
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy 2005
• Subjects: blood donors; declining donors; HIV notification; ID card; penalizing donors
• DOI: 10.3925/jjtc1958.51.320
• ISSN: 0546-1448

The yearly increases in the rate of HIV incidence among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VBD) over more than 10 years is of great concern, since it threatens blood safety. A questionnaire survey on ideas about preventive measures for avoiding HIV test-seeking donors was given to members of the Japanese Society of Transfusion Medicine (JSBT; n=361) and to VBD in each donation room in 2 Japanese Red Cross Blood Centers (RCBC; n=717). Requesting self-identification cards (ID) in interviews at the time of donation was accepted by more than 80% of both groups, 85% of whom would personally continue blood donation with ID presentation. Notification of positive HIV test results was agreed to by more than 80% of each group. Regarding notification of the results to donors, interviews were mentioned by 50% of the JSBT members, and confidential letters by 71% of the VBD. The idea that donors giving false replies to HIV-related items in interviews at the time of donation should be penalized was supported by more than half of both groups, but received an undecided response from 35% of the VBD, while the idea that donors refusing to accept notification of the test results should be disqualified for donation was accepted by only 38% of the JSBT members and 20% of the VBD, and received an undecided response from 18% of the JSBT members and 43% of the VBD. These results indicate that requesting ID at interview and notification of HIV infection can be introduced into our blood program. However, treatment of donors providing untrue information at interviews and/or declining to accept test results should be resolved by providing more information on the actual attitudes of these donors.