The South African National Blood Service (SANB, South African national blood bank) announced new data showing that the security of South Africa's blood stocks by application of nucleic acid testing (nucleic acid testing, NAT) significantly from Novartis for the study of donor blood for HIV and hepatitis has increased. The data provide further evidence of the success of activities to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis through infected blood transfusions, whose fifth anniversary was recently celebrated.

The data confirm not only a remarkable success story of public health, but are also an evidence that nucleic acid tests each individual blood donation (individual donor testing, ID-NAT) - in contrast to the testing of pools of several donors - the most sensitive method available for Detection of HIV type 1 (type of virus was 99.6% of all HIV infections), hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors are.

"Before the introduction of nucleic acid test was the transmission of HIV and hepatitis through blood donations are not uncommon in South Africa," said Ravi Reddy , chief operating officer of SANB. "Since the introduction of ID-NAT, we have eliminated this risk down, and no reports of HIV-1- infections caused by transfused blood or blood products transfused survived. The safety of patients in South Africa has thus increased. I hope that this will also serve as a model for other countries. "

Since 2005, SANB has 3.8 million blood donations for HIV-1 RNA, HCV RNA and HBV DNA with the Procleix Ultrio Novartis Diagnostics test on the TIGRIS system Procleix investigated for NAT screening of blood. Since NAT is a highly sensitive method for detection of viral genetic material (DNA and RNA) are so active infection can be detected, not capture the conventional serological tests may. This shortens the time between infection and detection of possible infection. Furthermore, detection is possible even in chronic infections with very low viral loads. The full integration and automation of all steps of the NAT method, which can only with the Procleix TIGRIS system will take place, allowing an efficient workflow for laboratories that perform tests daily a large number of samples. SANB leads in all samples and serological tests for the detection of an immune response to infection (anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg) by.

SANB The results show that the Procleix Ultrio Novartis Diagnostics test identified 6487 HIV-1-positive units of donor blood. In 96 of these units could HIV-1 with serological tests and the HIV p24 antigen test can not be proven. In addition, 3007 units were hepatitis B-positive, of whom 346 were not identified as positive in serological tests. 250 units were hepatitis C positive, 5 of which were not positive in serological tests. These infected blood units were considered negative and a transfusion was made available to if they had not been removed after the NAT test from the blood components.

According to UNAIDS in 2007 there were 5.3 million people with HIV infection in South Africa, representing a national HIV prevalence rate of 11%. This increased the risk of infected blood in blood stocks. It is estimated that one of 600 infected blood donations in South Africa with HIV-1.

"As in other countries do not know anyone with HIV or hepatitis infection from their infection or the risk of contamination of blood stocks with HIV and hepatitis. Therefore it is imperative that our blood screening program uses a test method that helps us blood to be as safe as possible, "said Reddy." The data show that this goal through individual donation testing using NAT screening in South Africa could be achieved. "

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system, rendering it ineffective or impair its function. The most common HIV-type HIV-1, which is easily transferable.

HIV-1 for the majority of all cases of AIDS, and is responsible for 99.6% of all HIV infections.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 5-10% of all HIV infections worldwide have been through infected blood transfusions or infected blood products transmit.

SANB is a non-profit organization that blood transfusions' from vein to vein "in 8 of the 9 provinces in South Africa possible. The SANB collects annually 780 000 blood units (100% on voluntary basis) and has two testing centres ( Johannesburg and Durban ), seven blood processing centres and 79 blood banks that supply more than 1,000 hospitals and clinics. SANB is from the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS, South African national system of accreditation) accredited.