Epidemiologic background of blood donors with antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Transfusion Safety Study Group.

Pubmed ID: 2572078

Journal: Transfusion

Publication Date: Oct. 1, 1989

Affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

MeSH Terms: Humans, Male, Adult, Female, HIV-1, Middle Aged, Blood Donors, Blood Transfusion, Homosexuality, HIV Seropositivity, Deltaretrovirus Antibodies, Deltaretrovirus Infections, Florida, Japan, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Sexual Partners, Substance-Related Disorders, West Indies

Grants: N01-HB-4-7002, N01-HB-4-7003, N01-HB-9-7074

Authors: Operskalski EA, Kleinman SH, Busch M, Donegan E, Stuart M, Schiff ER, Tomasulo PA, Lee H, Taylor PE, Parks WP

Cite As: Operskalski EA, Schiff ER, Kleinman SH, Busch M, Taylor PE, Parks WP, Lee H, Tomasulo PA, Donegan E, Stuart M. Epidemiologic background of blood donors with antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Transfusion Safety Study Group. Transfusion 1989 Oct;29(8):746-8.

Studies:

Abstract

We interviewed 51 blood donors in four major US metropolitan areas subsequently found to have had antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus (anti-HTLV) in late 1984-early 1985. Sixteen donors (31%) reported that they or a sexual contact had a history of blood transfusion. Twelve donors (24%) reported that they or a sexual contact used intravenous drugs. Ten donors (20%) were blacks born in the southeastern US. Four of the male donors (15%) reported homosexual contact. The most common characteristic was an association with Japan or the Caribbean basin (61%). These results show a broader variation of epidemiologic backgrounds than anticipated.