Seroprevalence Of Parvo Virus B19 Igg Antibodies Among Voluntary Blood Donors In Blood Bank At Tertiary Centre

Abstract

Background: Parvovirus B19 is a human pathogen classified under the genus Erythroparvovirus of the Parvoviridae family 1,2. It is a small, non-enveloped virus possessing a single-stranded DNA genome. Among the known Parvoviruses, B19 is the only strain pathogenic to humans (1). The virus primarily targets erythroid precursor cells, particularly in the bone marrow and foetal liver, through its affinity for the P blood group antigen located on red blood cell membranes (2).

Aim: To determine the seroprevalence of specific IgG antibodies among voluntary blood donors in tertiary care blood bank.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the blood bank of the pathology department of Sree Balaji Medical College in Chromepet, Chennai, over the course of two years, from December 2022 to December 2024. A total of 91 voluntary donors of blood were chosen who gave their consent to participate for the study.

Results: 33% of the donors were A positive, 22% were B positive, 32% were O positive, and 13% were AB positive. Based on the titre values, when the IgG value is less than 0.91(negative), it shows a lack of previous exposure to Parvovirus B19. When the values are between 0.91 and 0.99 (grey zone), re-testing the sample is necessary, and when the titre values are higher than 1.0 (positive), means the donor has had a history of Parvovirus B19 exposure.

Conclusion: This research emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and vigilant monitoring of ParvovirusB19 in transfusion medicine. It advocates from large-scale, multicentric serological and molecular studies to further elucidate the epidemiology and transfusion risk, which can guide the development of evidence-based national blood safety policies in India and other similar setting