Screening the U.S. blood supply for T. cruzi

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first Chagas disease screening test (enzyme linked immunosorbant assay, ELISA) for blood donations in late 2006, and screening began in early 2007. A second test, made by another manufacturer, was approved by FDA in 2010.

By 2012, all blood centers test for T. cruzi antibodies. FDA approved a supplemental test to help confirm screening test results in late 2011.

Positive donors may no longer donate blood and are advised to consult a physician for evaluation and possible treatment.

Based on the results of the first 16 months of blood donor screening, it was estimated that 1 in every 27,500 donors tests positive for Chagas disease nationwide.

Resource: AABB Chagas Biovigilance Network – data as of 12/31/2019