Patterns of age- and sex-specific prevalence of major blood-borne infections in United States blood donors, 1995 to 2002: American Red Cross blood donor study

BACKGROUND: The American Red Cross has been maintaining a research database of all blood donations, including all testing results for infectious disease markers, since 1995. This study analyzes the temporal trends of major blood‐borne infections among blood donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Temporal trends for age‐ and sex‐specific prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in US blood donors were analyzed based on linear trend or time series model or other models as appropriate. RESULTS: From 1995 to 2002, significant declines have been observed for infections that used to be at relatively higher levels. Declines in prevalence were slower among first‐time donations than repeat donations. There was an increase in prevalence of anti‐HCV among first‐time male donors of 50 to 59 years of age. Anti‐HIV prevalence appeared to have increased among first‐time male donors of 30 to 39 years of age since 2000. CONCLUSION: Different sex and age groups showed various patterns of decline and even signs of increase. The increasing prevalence among some age and sex groups may merit further investigation.