Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum and these bacteria may be found in the blood stream. Syphilis is usually transmitted by sexual contact or from mother to infant and be transmitted by transfusion of blood or blood components from donors with active syphilis.
Blood donation is the process of taking blood from someone voluntarily to be stored in a blood bank as blood stock and then used for blood transfusions.
Donor selection is based on information about the donor, identifying risk factors in the donor’s behaviour, the medical history collected using a questionnaire and physical examination of the donor to find clinical signs of the infection.
The risk of transfusion-transmitted syphilis is closely related to risk factors in the blood donor, in particular sexual behaviour since the disease is primarily transmitted by the sexual route. The rates of infection are high among homosexual men. Older age, male-male sex, two or more sexual partners, a history of syphilis treatment and HIV seropositivity are closely related to transfusion-transmitted syphilis. Other risk factors associated with transfusion-transmitted syphilis include prostitution, bisexuality (men having sex with both men and women), intravenous drug use and skin scarification (tattooing).
Donor selection is important because donors with high-risk behaviours and other risk factors may be infected by syphilis and compromise the safety of blood used for transfusion.
In Indonesia, the Indonesian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Unit (UTD PMI) is very concerned about the safety of all blood. Screening tests must be carried out to determine the presence of infectious diseases that can be transmitted through donated blood, such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Syphilis.
The syphilis screening test is an examination to detect the presence of antibodies produced by the body to fight the bacteria that cause syphilis. Syphilis screening is important because this disease is found in the bloodstream and can remain in the body for a long time, without causing symptoms. If the donor's blood contains the Treponema pallidum bacteria that cause syphilis, then this disease can be transmitted to other people through the blood transfusion process.
Therefore, every UTD PMI will carry out a screening test for four parameters of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Syphilis) using the Elisa or Rapid test method.
PT Isotekindo Intertama is an importer & distributor for Accu-Tell® Rapid Syphilis Test (Whole Blood/Serum/Plasma) which can qualitatively detect the presence of antibodies (IgG and IgM) against Treponema Pallidum in whole blood, serum, or plasma to assist in the diagnosis of Syphilis. Tools & materials in 1 box are complete; contains 25 test cassettes, 25 plastic capillary pipettes, 1 buffer bottle and 1 Insert Pack. The test will provide results within 5 minutes. More complete instructions can be read on the insert pack sheet.
Picture 1. Accu-Tell® Rapid Syphilis Test (Whole Blood/Serum/Plasma)
Test results using the Accu-Tell® Rapid Syphilis Test (Whole Blood/Serum/Plasma) can be called positive if two colored lines form in the control area (C) and test area (T). The color intensity will vary depending on the concentration of Treponema Pallidum antibodies in the specimen. Even if a faint line forms in the test area (T), it can be considered a positive result.
Syphilis screening can help to diagnose syphilis, especially in the early stages. That way, the blood donation process can be postponed and the safety of the blood used for transfusion is guaranteed. Apart from that, prospective donors with suspected syphilis will be treated more quickly and complications of syphilis can be avoided.
References:
- National Library of Medicine. (2015). Syphilis testing in blood donors: an update
- Palang Merah Indonesia. (2017). Uji Saring Infeksi
- World Health Organization. (2023). Syphilis
