Epidemiological screening combined with serological tests has become an important tool at blood banks for the
characterization of donors with or without
Trypanosoma cruzi
infection. Thus, the objective of the present study was
to describe the sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of blood donors with non-negative serology
for
T. cruzi to determine possible risk factors associated with serological ineligibility. Sociodemographic and epide-
miological data were collected by analysis of patient histories and interviews. The data were analyzed descriptively
using absolute and relative frequencies and odds ratio (OR) evaluation. The frequency of serological ineligibility was
0.28%, with a predominance of inconclusive reactions (52%) and seropositivity among first-time donors (OR = 607),
donors older than 30 years (OR = 3.7), females (OR = 1.9), donors from risk areas (OR = 4) and subjects living in rural
areas (OR = 1.7). The risk of seropositivity was higher among donors who had contact with the triatomine vector (OR
= 11.7) and those with a family history of Chagas disease (OR = 4.8). The results demonstrate the value of detailed
clinical-epidemiological screening as an auxiliary tool for serological definition that, together with more specific and
more sensitive laboratory methods, will guarantee a higher efficacy in the selection of donors at blood centres.
