Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Recently, tick-borne pathogens transmitted through blood transfusions have posed new risks to blood safety. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? We developed a quality control system for nucleic acid testing (NAT) for Babesia, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, evaluated five Triplex-NAT kits, and conducted external quality assessments of blood centers. This study screened 92,700 blood donors from Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang provincial-level administrative divisions during 2022-2023. A donor in Hegang, Heilongjiang, tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, marking the first detection of this infection in Chinese blood donors. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Quality control of NAT is vital for managing tick-borne pathogen outbreaks. To ensure blood transfusion safety, screening should be strengthened in high-risk areas outside national borders.