Transfusion risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 1991-2001

We examined the time trend of residual risk of transfusing blood contaminated with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, in the largest blood bank of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 1991-2001. The HIV risk was reduced approximately 10 times during the decade of 1990, to 1:48777, but then increased significantly by the end of 2001. A similar time trend was observed for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, although the increase was not significant in this case. Even during the period of lowest risk, the estimates were considerably higher than in developed countries.