Temporal trends in transfusion-transmissible infection screening reactivity among blood donations in Northeastern Mexico, 2014-2025

Samantha B. Medrano-Juárez, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Jorge M. Llaca-Díaz, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Erik A. San Miguel-Garay, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Erik A. Díaz-Chuc, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Luz E. Avilés-Rodríguez, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico Sergio Ayala-de la Cruz, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

Background: Blood donor screening is essential for transfusion safety and may provide surveillance signals for transfusion- transmissible infections. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate temporal trends and sociodemographic determinants of transfusion-transmissible infection screening reactivity among blood donations in Northeastern Mexico, 2014-2025. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of donations using routine blood bank data from the Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”. Screening markers included Treponema pallidum, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1/2) antibodies and p24 antigen, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Temporal trends were assessed using beta regression, and sociodemographic associations were evaluated using Firth penalized logistic regression. Results: A total of 146,470 donations were analyzed. T. pallidum showed the highest seroprevalence, followed by HCV, T. cruzi, HIV, and HBsAg. Over time, seroprevalence increased for T. pallidum and HBsAg, whereas HIV and T. cruzi remained low and stable. Conclusions: Screening reactivity was low overall but showed heterogeneous temporal patterns. Routine blood bank data may support regional transfusion safety surveillance and quality monitoring.

Keywords: Blood donors. Transfusion-transmissible infections. Treponema pallidum.