Antibody false positivity among covid-19 convalescent plasma donors: A comparative study from the turkish red crescent blood center

Hayat L., Beker C. M., Karaca A., Hafizoglu N., Kinik K., Yilmaz F. M.

Haseki Tip Bulteni, vol.59, no.5, pp.353-357, 2021 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 59 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.4274/haseki.galenos.2021.7383
  • Journal Name: Haseki Tip Bulteni
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.353-357
  • Keywords: Convalescent plasma, False HIV, Immunoassay, Serologic tests
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Aim: During our routine work at the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) laboratories, human deficiency virus (HIV) 1/2 antibody false-positive results were observed among Coronavirus disease-2019 convalescent plasma (CP) donors more frequently than healthy donors. We aimed to determine anti-HIV 1/2 antibody false-positivity rates among the CP donors and healthy blood donors. Methods: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study which was a type of observational study. Total 3689 donations from 2593 donors donated CP to the TRC between 11 April-06 July 2020, were screened by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the presence of antibody against HIV ½. The confirmation tests were performed with line immunoassay. All of the donors were non-remunerated CP donors between the ages of 18-60. For the control group, 411078 donations from 407363 healthy blood donors were received on the same days. Results: Repeated reactivity rates (1.87%) were significantly higher than the control group (0.13%, p<0.05). However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the confirmed reactivity rates of the study group (0.03%) and the control group (0.01%, p=0.217). Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that the false-positive results obtained from serologic HIV screening tests of CP donors were significantly higher when compared to the healthy blood donors.