Factors influencing blood donation among university students in Vojvodina, Serbia: cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sociodemographic factors on knowledge, attitudes, motivation and potential barriers of university students towards blood donation in the order to more effective donation promotion.

Design: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 1000 participants (500 non-blood donors-NBD, 276 first time blood donors-FTBD and 224 regular blood donors-RBD) from the 14 faculties of the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. The measurement tool used was a pretested survey questionnaire that included 22 questions focused on the factors influencing blood donation.

Reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Serbian voluntary blood donors.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has major implications on the entire blood supply system worldwide. Seroepidemiological studies are certainly necessary for better understanding the global burden that the COVID-19 pandemic represents.

Objectives: In this study, we analysed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity, vaccination status and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Serbian blood donors.

Personal Freedom and Public Responsibility: Remaining Questions after First Case of HIV Transmission via Blood Transfusion in North Serbia.

The reduction in the risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (including HIV infection) is an essential part of transfusion patient care. Here, we report the first incident of HIV transmission via transfusion in north Serbia due to blood donor dishonesty, and the failure of the laboratory screen tests to detect the presence of HIV particles in his blood. Infected blood products were distributed to two recipients, and HIV infection was confirmed in one.

Demographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Reactivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Serbian Convalescent Plasma Donors.

Passive immunotherapy with convalescent COVID-19 plasma (CCP) is used as a therapeutic procedure in many countries, including Serbia. In this study, we analyzed the association between demographic factors, COVID-19 severity and the reactivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) in Serbian CCP donors. Individuals ( = 468) recovered from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and who were willing to donate their plasma for passive immunization of COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seropositivity among Tick Infested Individuals in Serbia.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), caused by the TBE virus (TBEV), is a life-threatening disease with clinical symptoms ranging from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system. Despite TBE is a notifiable disease in Serbia since 2004, there is no active TBE surveillance program for the serologic or molecular screening of TBEV infection in humans in the country. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the TBEV exposure among tick-infested individuals in Serbia during the year 2020.

Shared Odds of and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia.

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Serbia and other European countries. Rabies is a fatal zoonosis distributed worldwide and is caused by the rabies virus. Professionals at risk of rabies-including veterinarians, hunters, communal service workers, and forestry workers-overlap with some professions at a higher risk of exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infections.

Assessing donor suitability for blood donation: Utility of Geenius HIV 1/2 confirmatory assay.

Background: Blood donor care and blood safety require a quick and accurate decision on the presence or absence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, based on the proper selection of blood donors, serological and molecular HIV testing as well as western blot test. The aim was investigating the possibility of inclusion of Geenius HIV 1/2 Confirmatory Assay in blood donor testing algorithm in order to shorten test time and decrease the number of indeterminate results.

Methods: A total of 75 archived serum/plasma samples were tested.

Exchange Transfusion for Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: 17 Years' Experience from Vojvodina, Serbia.

This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of the main risk factors for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, to determine the incidence of exchange transfusion (ET) in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (the northern part of Serbia) and to describe the experience with ET performed in premature and term infants during the past 17 years. We performed a retrospective data analysis of 398 newborn infants who underwent a double volume ET from 1997 to 2013. During the 17 year study period, a decreasing incidence of ET, expressed per thousand newborns, was observed.

[Improving blood safety: errors management in transfusion medicine].

Introduction: The concept of blood safety includes the entire transfusion chain starting with the collection of blood from the blood donor, and ending with blood transfusion to the patient. The concept involves quality management system as the systematic monitoring of adverse reactions and incidents regarding the blood donor or patient. Monitoring of near-miss errors show the critical points in the working process and increase transfusion safety.

[Transfusion management of patients with red blood cell antibodies].

Introduction: Red blood cell antibodies may cause a positive result of pre-transfusion blood compatibility testing (crossmatch test). It can be a problem to provide suitable blood units for patients with clinically significant antibodies to high-frequency antigens as well as for those with multiple alloantibody specificities. This study was aimed at identifying transfused patients in the population of South-Backa who had developed clinically significant red blood cell alloantibodies.

[Rare blood donors with irregular antibodies].

Introduction: Blood groups are inherited biological characteristics that do not change throughout life in healthy people. Blood groups represent antigens found on the surface of red blood cells. Kell blood group system consists of 31 antigens.

[The importance of immunohematology testing in the neonatal period].

Introduction: In order to diagnose hemolytic disease of the newborn it is necessary to determine ABO/Rh blood group, direct antiglobulin test and indirect antiglobulin test in newborns as well as ABO/Rh and indirect antiglobulin test in their mothers due to a possible incompatibility between the blood types of the mother and her baby. The study was aimed at reviewing and analyzing the results of screening of the newborns and pregnant women on the territory of South Backa District during 2011, as well as at estimating the necessity to give blood transfusion to the newborns in the same period.

Material And Methods: Data obtained from the information system and protocol of the Institute for Blood Transfusion of Vojvodina were used in a retrospective analysis of screening of newborns and pregnant women.

[Transfusion management of patients with alloanti-Gerbich antibodies: case report].

Introduction: Transfusion management of patients who are alloimmunized against high-prevalence erythrocyte antigens is often problematic. Strategy management depends, not only on the specific clinical circumstances of the patient, but also on the acceptable time frame. In patients without clinically significant antibody incompatible transfusion it may be less harmful than delaying medical intervention.

[Risk factors for syphilis infection in the South Backa blood donor population].

Introduction: Syphilis is one of infectious diseases that can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Determining the frequency of syphilis among blood donors and the relevant risk factors is an important aspect of safe blood transfusion.

Objective: To determine the frequency and the trend of syphilis infection among blood donors in South Backa Region, to classify the confirmed infection and to describe demographic characteristics of seropositive blood donors and their risk factors.