Title: Occurrence of Transfusion Transmitted Malaria Parasites among Voluntary Blood Donors Using CareStartTM Cassette and Quantitative Buffy Coat Techniques at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
Authors: T.M Ndunda, Naomi Waiganjo
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i9.26
Abstract
Background: Malaria is a killer disease which can be transmitted through transfusion of blood and blood products such as packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets concentrate and cryoprecipitate. In medical setups, blood and its products are screened for other transfusion transmitted infections but not for malaria parasites. Recipient of blood and blood products are given antimalarial post transfusion.
Specific Objectives: The specific objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of malaria parasites among voluntary blood donors using Quantitative Buffy Coat, malaria CarestartTm cassette and also to determine the level of agreement between quantitative Buffy coat and malaria CarestartTM cassette diagnostic techniques. Microscopic technique was used as the gold standard.
Design: The study applied across sectional descriptive study design.
Subjects: The study involved recruitment of 155 voluntary blood donors at Kenyatta National Hospital. The blood samples were subjected to three malaria screening techniques which included microscopy, quantitative buffy coat and malaria CarestartTm cassette.
Method: After blood collection from the blood donors, samples were screened for presence or absence of malaria parasites usingmalaria CarestartTM cassette and Quantitative Buffy Coat techniques and microscopy which was used as the gold standard.
Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of malaria infection among voluntary donors by microscopy was 5/155(3.2%), Quantitative buffy coat was 6/155 (3.9%) and malaria CarestartTm cassettetechnique was 8/155 (5.2 %).
Conclusion: This study confirmed that the prevalence of Malaria parasites among blood donors that are seen at Kenyatta National Hospital was 3.2% by microscopic technique, quantitative Buffy coat 3.9% and Malaria Carestart TM Cassette technique 5.2%. This implied that blood donations contained some level of malaria parasites which is a healthy risk to patients under transfusion.
Keywords: Transfusion transmitted malaria parasites, Voluntary blood donors, Quantitative Buffy Coat, Blood products, Fluorescing parasites.
References
- Ali, M. S. M., Gader, A. A. I., Kadaru, M. Y., & Mustafa, M. S. (2004). Screening blood donors for malaria parasite in Sudan. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 18(2), 2–6.
- Brouwer, E. E., Hellemond, J. J. Van, Genderen, P. J. J. Van, Slot, E., Lieshout, L. Van, Visser, L. G., & Wismans, P. J. (2013). A case report of transfusion-transmitted Plasmodium malariae from an asymptomatic non-immune traveller. Malaria Journal, 12(439), 1–6.
- Epidi, T. T., Nwani, C. D., & Ugorji, N. P. (2008). Prevalence of malaria in blood donors in Abakaliki Metropolis, Nigeria. Sci Res Essay.
- University Teaching Hospital. African Journal of Medical Sciences, 2, 100–103.
- Ikeh, E., & Okeke, F. (2006). Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in screened blood donors at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences, 4(2), 99–101.
- Kitchen, A. D., & Chiodini, P. L. (2005). Malaria and blood transfusion. Vox Sanguinis, 90(2), 77–84.
- Latha, B. (2016). Malaria Screening among voluntary blood donors to find out the prevalence to evaluate the sensitivity of different technique. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences., 15(6), 85–88.
- Okocha, E. C., Ibehb, C. C., Elec, P. U., & Ibeha, N. C. (2005). The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in blood donors in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, 42(1), 21–24.
- Owusu-Ofori, A. K., Betson, M., Parry, C. M., Stothard, J. R., & Bates, I. (2013). Transfusion-transmitted malaria in Ghana. Infectious Diseases of America, 56(12), 1735–1741.
- Uneke, C. J., Ogbu, O., & Nwojiji, V. (2006). Potential risk of induced malaria by blood transfusion in South-Eastern Nigeria. McGill Journal of Medicine, 9(1), 8–13.