Lu S.C.CHUAN-LIANG KAOChin L.T.Chen J.W.Yang C.M.Chang J.H.Hsu S.C.Chang A.C.H.Chen B.H.2020-07-032020-07-0320010925-5710https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/508073Screening for the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and-II in blood donors was implemented in Taiwan beginning in February 1996. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes in HTLV-I seroprevalence in all unpaid blood donors in Taiwan during the period from February 1996 to December 1999 and to determine the influence of age and sex on the HTLV-I seropositivity of donors. HTLV-I and HTLV-II screening was performed using combined HTLV-I/II immunoassay. Repeated reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Of a total of 3,701,087 donors in all 6 blood centers in Taiwan, 2311 (0.058%) were seropositive for HTLV-I. The HTLV-I seropositivity was 0.130%, 0.063%, 0.044%, and 0.032% in the years 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively.There was a linear increase of HTLV-I seropositivity with advancing age. The HTLV-I carrier rate for female donors was twice that for the male donors. Ninty-seven percent of HTLV-I seropositive results came from first-time donors. Our findings suggest that Taiwan is a low-prevalence nonendemic area for HTLV-I infection. The large-scale HTLV-I screening program has decreased HTLV-I seropositivity among blood donors and is useful for preventing HTLV-I transmission via blood transfusion. ? 2001 The Japanese Society of Hematology.Blood donors; Enzyme immunoassay; Human T-cell lymphotropic virus[SDGs]SDG3adolescent; adult; age; aged; article; blood donor; disease transmission; epidemiology; female; human; Human T cell leukemia virus infection; male; sex difference; Taiwan; topography; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Blood Donors; Female; HTLV-I Infections; HTLV-II Infections; Human; Male; Middle Age; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Factors; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Taiwan; Topography, Medicaljournal article10.1007/BF02982070117219722-s2.0-0035491552