Comparison of ELISA and NAT techniques among blood donors
Author(s): Dr. Pramod Motiram Duthade
Abstract: Large number of blood transfusions are carried out globally to save countless lives, but unsafe practices risks the recipient of transfusion transmittable infections ((TTI’S). TTI’s can be reduced by improving donor selection, donor awareness regarding TTI and implementing sensitive screening tests. In India, it is mandatory to test each donated unit of blood for markers of HIVI and II, HBV, HCV, malaria and syphilis. Currently, in India all the blood donations are screened for various infectious markers using ELISA or rapid methods. TTIs can be responsible for causing considerable burden on the health status and economy of the country. Hence there is need to introduce better methods for testing blood units. Even after being seronegative the blood transfusions are still at risk of transmitting infections. In order to reduce the residual risk sensitive screening tests are needed and as a result NAT has been considered. In India NAT testing is not mandatory but many private blood banks and hospitals and state Governments of few states have started implementing NAT for blood safety. It increases the possibility of identifying the infection in window period and thus reducing the residual risk of TTIs. NAT is highly sensitive and specific for viral nucleic acids and is based on amplification of targeted regions of RNA and DNA and thus is the technique of choice. By early detection than serology, the window period of HIV, HBV and HCV infections narrows. But the issue of higher cost accounts for its limited use especially in developing countries. The present study is designed to understand the role of NAT in detecting the risk acquiring TTIs as compared to conventional methods currently in use for detection of HBV, HCV and HIV infections amongst blood donors.
Dr. Pramod Motiram Duthade. Comparison of ELISA and NAT techniques among blood donors. Int J Adv Res Med 2021;3(1):568-570. DOI: 10.22271/27069567.2021.v3.i1i.318
