Diagnostic moléculaire du virus de l'immunodéficience humaine acquise (VIH) sur les pools de plasmas de donneurs de sang au centre régional de transfusion sanguine de Ouagadougou (CRST-O), Burkina Faso

Study Objectives. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the use of viral genome diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in blood donors in the regional blood transfusion center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methodology. This prospective study was carried out from August to December 2009 at the regional blood transfusion center in Ouagadougou (RBTC-O). Detection of HIV-1 was performed by RT-PCR on pooled plasma and individual samples from blood donors. Samples were selected based on reactivity with fourth generation ELISA. Results. ELISA assays on 20 plasma pools demonstrated 10 negative samples. 8 positive and 2 undeterminable. All positive and negative ELISA tests were confirmed by RT-PCR. Findings of RT-PCR on individual samples confirmed those obtained on pooled plasma samples. For the two undeterminable pools. RT-PCR identified one as negative and the other as positive. Individual RT-PCR testing of donations contained in positive and negative pooled plasma samples confirmed negative or positive findings. Conclusions. Because of the high cost of RT-PCR, we recommend use first on minipools or individual samples from blood donors with questionable HIV-1 status to confirm status quickly and minimize loss of blood bags.