SANBS Marks 21 Years of Donor Nucleic Acid Testing

South Africa's blood service has screened about 18 million donations since individual donor nucleic acid testing began in October 2005.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Life Sciences

SANBS Marks 21 Years of Donor Nucleic Acid Testing

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The South African National Blood Service marked 21 years of individual donor nucleic acid testing, a screening method that detects the genetic material of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. South Africa was the first country to implement the testing at a national scale.

Why it matters

The testing identifies infections earlier than antibody-based screening alone, which bears directly on the safety of the national blood supply. SANBS data also shows the share of donations from black donors rising from about 4% in 2005 to almost 60% in 2026.

SANBS reports about 18 million donations screened, with 5,166 NAT-yield cases identified: 77% Hepatitis B, 21% HIV and 2% Hepatitis C. Total collections grew from 3.8 million in 2005-2010 to 5.8 million in 2021-2026, and the source does not say how many yield cases were confirmed as infections after follow-up.

The players

South African National Blood Service (SANBS)

SANBS is the national body responsible for collecting and supplying blood and blood products across South Africa.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO is the United Nations agency that directs international public health and sets global health standards.

The details

SANBS received approval from the national department of health in 2004 to implement individual donor nucleic acid testing, which was introduced in October 2005. The programme was implemented amid significant challenges in managing transfusion-transmitted infection risk during the HIV pandemic, and the World Health Organisation recognised SANBS as one of the top five blood services globally in 2011.

2004: The national health department approved individual donor nucleic acid testing for SANBS.
October 2005: Individual donor nucleic acid testing was introduced.
2011: The World Health Organisation recognised SANBS as a top five global blood service.
2021-2026: Total blood collections reached 5.8 million.

Big Picture

The programme was built in response to the transfusion-transmitted infection risks that the HIV pandemic exposed in national blood supplies. Two decades on, SANBS's nucleic acid testing stands as a continuation of that response rather than a standalone milestone.

Blood donors in South Africa are screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C at the individual level, which catches infections that antibody testing alone may miss. The screening applies to every donation that passes through the national service.

The takeaway

Donating blood in South Africa is screened individually for HIV and hepatitis, so prospective donors can give with confidence in the safety process. Regular donation remains essential as collection volumes continue to rise.