Abstract
Blood transfusion is a critical component of patient care, yet tattoos and body piercings performed under non-sterile conditions may serve as sources of bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the Philippines, donors with recent tattoos are deferred for one year, and national prevalence rates are estimated at 1.1% for HBV, 0.2% for HCV, and 0.1% for HIV, highlighting the need for targeted donor screening. This study aimed to report, for the first time in the Philippines, the screening and confirmatory results of anti-HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV among vol untary blood donors (VBD) with tattoos and/or body piercings. A retrospective cohort design was employed using data from 11,711 donors at Tondo Medical Center, Manila, from 2014 to 2018. Variables included donor age, sex, tattoo/piercing status, and serologic screening and confirmatory results. Among donors, 22% had tattoos and/or piercings; of these, 13.3% had body piercings, 79.5% were male, and 58.5% were aged 18-30 years. Overall reactive rates were 3.1% for anti-HBsAg, 0.2% for anti-HCV, and 0.1% for anti-HIV, with the highest HBV reactivity observed among donors with both tattoos and piercings. HCV and HIV reactivity occurred exclusively among those with piercings. Confirmed positivity rates were 1.5% for HBV, 0.04% for HCV, and 0.1% for HIV; however, only 48% of initially reactive samples underwent confirmatory testing. Although inked and/or pierced donors without one-year deferral demonstrated generally low infection rates, the confirmed HIV rate exceeded the national average. Challenges in data retrieval and limited confirmatory testing capacity highlight gaps in current screening practices. Strengthened donor deferral policies, expanded confirmatory testing, and improved infrastructure are recommended to ensure safe blood donation and reduce transfusion-transmitted infections.
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