Evidence of HIV pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) among blood donors: a pilot study, England June 2018 to July 2019.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Due to increased use of pre-exposure prohylaxis (PrEP) and its potential to affect HIV screening of blood donors, we undertook antiretroviral residual testing among HIV-negative male donors in England.

METHODS:

Residual plasma samples were obtainnd from 46 male donors confirmed positive for syphilis and 96 donors who were repeat reactive for HIV antibodies in screening but confirmed as HIV-negative by reference testing. These were tested for concentrations of tenofovir and emtricitabine by high-performance liquid chromatograhpy coupled with mass spectrometry.

RESULTS:

We found evidence of pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) use in three male blood donors confirmed positive for syphilis (3 out of 46 screened, 6.5%). Two were estimated to have taken PrEP/PEP within a day of donating, and the third within 2 days. Two were new donors, whereas one had donated previously but acquired syphilis infection after his last donation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings indicate that a small proportion of blood donors have not been disclosing PrEP/PEP use and therefore donating in non-compliance to donor eligibility criteria.

• Authors: Heli Harvala, Claire Reynolds, Samreen Ijaz, Vicki Maddox, Sujan Dilly Penchala, Alieu Amara, Laura Else, Susan Brailsford, Saye Khoo
• Journal: Sexually transmitted infections (Sex Transm Infect) Vol. 98 Issue 2 Pg. 132-135 (03 2022) ISSN: 1472-3263 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33782147 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-HIV Agents (administration & dosage, blood)
• Blood Donors (statistics & numerical data)
• England (epidemiology)
• HIV Infections (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Homosexuality, Male (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Male
• Mass Screening
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (methods, statistics & numerical data)