Survey in Iranian Malaria Blood Donation Deferral: Laboratory Evaluation in Malaria Blood Donation Deferral in the Iranian Blood Centers

Introduction: Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM), from a malaria infected donor, is an accidental Plasmodium infection, which is one of the concerns of blood transfusion issue in the world. Countries have adopted different strategies for donor selection and improving criteria to overcome these concerns, In the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), donors who refer to blood transfusion centers after registration are screened by the physicians based on interview and examination. This prevention due to the possibility of malaria infection is called malaria donor deferral strategy.

Methods: In this study 248 malaria blood donation deferral samples were selected and evaluated by microscopic, serological and molecular methods, after completing the questionnaire.

Results: The results of the survey of the questionnaires showed that 30 cases were deferred from donating blood due to having a history of malaria infection. In microscopic examination, Plasmodium ring was observed in 2 samples and 2 samples were also reported as suspicious. In serological examination, 23 cases (9.27%) were reported positive. All cases were reported negative for the presence of malaria parasite DNA.

Conclusions: The adoption of TTM prevention strategies depends on the malaria endemicity of the geographical area. According to the IBTO instructions, donors are examined and interviewed by a blood transfusion physician’s and owning to traveling or residency in endemic area or malaria infection, deferred temporary or permanently.

Recent study reveal that the strategy of donor selection and deferral in the IBTO, with little residual risk of malaria transmitting, is sufficient to prevent the occurrence of TTM in Iran.