Evaluation of clinical sensitivity and specificity of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus,and human immunodeficiency Virus-1 by cobas MPX: Detection of occult HBV infection in an HBV-endemic area

BackgroundTransfusion-transmitted infectious diseases remain a major concern for blood safety, particularly with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Nucleic acid testing (NAT) in donor screening shortens the serologically negative window period and reduces virus transmission. The cobas MPX (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Branchburg, New Jersey) is a recently developed multiplex qualitative PCR system that enables the simultaneous detection of HBV, HCV, and HIV with improved sensitivity and throughput using cobas 6800 and 8800 instruments.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to conduct an evaluation of the clinical sensitivity and specificity of cobas MPX detection of HBV, HCV, and HIV in clinical specimens.Study designAmong samples referred for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 quantification at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, positive samples were selected to evaluate sensitivity. A total of 843 samples was tested using both cobas MPX and COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan Tests for HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 using the cobas 8800 system and a COBAS TaqMan 96 analyzer, respectively. Samples that showed discrepancies were confirmed by nested PCR.ConclusionsThe cobas MPX achieved excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 in clinical samples. We found that the lower limit of detection (LOD) of blood screening by NAT actually improves clinical sensitivity, and occult HBV infection prevalence among healthy employees of the hospital was rather high.     

Donor minipool NAT screening for HBV,HCV, and HIV: a 2-year experience in a private hospital in Saudi Arabia

Blood transfusion is a life-saving approach, although it carries the risk of transfusion-transmitted viruses (TTVs). In Saudi Arabia (SA), nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) has been obligatory for HCV, HBV, and HIV by 2008. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of NAT for detection of TTVs in the blood donated at Saudi German Hospitals (SGH) in SA. A total of 12,437 donor samples from SGH between January 2009 and June 2011 were subjected to routine serologic tests for HBV, HCV, and HIV followed by minipool NAT using Cobas Amplicor analyzer (Roche Diagnostics) for the seronegative samples. Out of 12,032 seronegative plasmas, five (0.042 %) were positive for HCV and two (0.017 %) for HIV-1 by NAT. None of our seronegative donors were NAT positive for HBV, highlighting the value of hepatitis B core antibody detection in donor testing. Our results provide evidence to support the effectiveness of NAT screening to detect TTVs in blood donations.     

Suitability of an automated nucleic acid extractor (easyMAG) for use with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleic acid amplification testing

Serological screening assays have greatly reduced, but not eliminated, the risk of transmission of viral infections by transfusion of blood and blood products. In addition, the 1999 regulation of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products requiring all plasma for fractionation to have tested negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (CPMP/BWP/390/97, 1998) led many blood transfusion services to introduce nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) to screen blood donations for HCV, and in some services for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). BioMérieux's second-generation system, the NucliSENS easyMAG, was evaluated as a suitable platform for the automated extraction of nucleic acids for use with the existing SNBTS NAT assays. Two nucleic acid extraction protocols were examined, either lysis on the easyMAG (on board) or a 30-min pre-incubation of the sample with lysis buffer at 37 °C (off board). Off board lysis was found to extract nucleic acid more efficiently for both HCV and HIV NAT assays although the improvement was more marked with HIV. The 95% limit of detections (LODs) were 10.11 IU/ml (on board) and 7.21 IU/ml (off board) for HCV and 55.11 IU/ml (on board) and 34.13 (off board) for HIV. Using the more sensitive off board lysis, nucleic acid extraction specificity, robustness and reliability of the easyMAG were examined and over 10,000 Scottish blood donations (in 107 pools of 95 donations) were tested for HCV and HIV in parallel with the existing assay. The results indicate that the easyMAG is a suitable and flexible nucleic acid extraction system, providing high quality nucleic acids and a rapid response alternative to commercial, fully automated, approved blood screening platforms.     

Automated multiplex assay system for simultaneous detection of hepatitis B virus DNA, hepatitis C virus RNA, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA

We have developed an automated multiplex system for simultaneously screening hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in blood donations. The assay, designated AMPLINAT MPX HBV/HCV/HIV-1 Test (AMPLINAT MPX), consists of virus extraction and target sequence-specific probe capture on specimen preparation workstation GT-X (Roche Diagnostics K.K., Tokyo, Japan) and amplification and detection by TaqMan PCR on the ABI PRISM 7700 Analyzer (Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.). An internal control (IC) is incorporated in the assay to monitor the extraction, target amplification, and detection processes. The assay yields qualitative results without discrimination of the three targets. Detection limits (95% confidence interval) are 22 to 60 copies/ml for HBV, 61 to 112 IU/ml for HCV, and 33 to 66 copies/ml for HIV-1, using a specimen input volume of 0.2 ml. The AMPLINAT MPX assay detects a broad range of genotypes or subtypes for all three viruses and has a specificity of 99.6% for all three viruses with seronegative specimens. In an evaluation of seroconversion panels, the AMPLINAT MPX assay detects HBV infection an average of 24 days before the detection of HBsAg by enzyme immunoassay. HCV RNA was detected an average of 31 days before HCV antibody. HIV-1 RNA was detected an average of 14 days before HIV-1 antibody and an average of 9 days before p24 antigen. The Japanese Red Cross has been evaluating the AMPLINAT MPX system since October 1999. The clinical performance indicates that the AMPLINAT MPX system is robust, sensitive, and reproducible, with a high percentage of valid assay runs (96.8%), a low false-positive rate (0.34%), and a low IC failure rate (0.24%).     

Current concepts in serological testing – TTID

Introduction Blood components play a major part in a huge number of therapeutic interventions in oncology, haematology, surgery and other medicine disciplines. Therefore, the supply of safe blood products is a major ongoing challenge for blood transfusion services. Serology screening tests were developed to improve blood safety. As screening for antibodies reflects an immune reaction in response to infection, the diagnostic window period is longer for antibody tests than for direct screening assays, such as nucleic amplification tests (NAT). The introduction of mini-pool NAT (MP-NAT) and individual donation NAT (ID-NAT) as well as the development of antigen screening assays, such as the hepatitis C virus antigen test (which detects the NS3 antigen) and the p24 antigen assay for HIV-1, have been able to reduce the diagnostic window period. Methods Currently, blood donor screening for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, anti-HIV-1/2 and syphilis antibodies is mandated by the German authority (the Paul Ehrlich Institute). All blood donations must also be screened for HCV and HIV-1 using MP-NAT. The German Red Cross Blood Donor Services Baden-Württemberg-Hessen has implemented additional blood donor screening for anti-CMV (for platelet products from repeat donors) and MP-NAT screening for HBV, HAV and Parvovirus B19 on a voluntary basis. Results The epidemiology data within the last 4 years have found that 98% and 89% of hepatitis B and hepatitis C positive donors belonged to the first time donor population. Between 1997 and 2005, the German Red Cross Blood Donor Services detected hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV-1 in 43, 23 and 7 donors, respectively, using NAT. About 50% (22 out of 43) of these HBV-infected donors were in the acute phase of infection, while 21 were in the occult phase. Improvements in NAT technology, especially the introduction of full-automated extraction robot systems (e.g. the Zelos × 100), have been able to reduce the diagnostic window period, especially for hepatitis B, by improving the 95% level of detection. Nevertheless, five cases of NAT failures in detecting HIV-1 have been reported to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute within the last decade. In 2010 in particular, three cases occurred in Germany due to mutations in the primer and probe binding regions. These cases restarted a discussion about risk analysis for NAT screening tests and serology methods in general. Conclusion In Germany, blood donor screening is performed using parallel serological assays (antigen and antibody detection) and by MP-NAT for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV-1. The risk of false-negative test results due to mutations in primer and probe binding regions is higher for NAT systems than for antibody/antigen detection tests. Therefore, the manufactures of the NAT systems are advised to improve their systems by utilising amplification in at least two conserved regions (dual- or triple-targeting). The diagnostic window period for new screening strategies (e.g., antigen screening for HCV)     

Genomic detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by nucleic acid amplification test in a frequent platelet donor during the pre-seroconversion period

Since serological donor-screening tests for HIV were introduced in 1985, the safety of donated blood components has improved dramatically. However, these tests do not completely prevent the risk of transfusion-associated HIV infection related to the use of blood donated during the pre-seroconversion window period. Testing based on nucleic acid amplification is being implemented to screen for HIV-infected blood donated during this period, which has reduced the probability of transmitting HIV through transfusion by shortening the window period. This article describes a case of acute HIV-1 infection, detected using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) in a repeat blood donor who donated during the pre-seroconversion window period and whose antigen and anti-HIV antibody expression was observed after molecular marker detection. In addition, the possible route of infection is discussed based on the patient’s history, and finally, the need for NAT technology for blood donor screening is emphasized.     

Yield and future issues of nucleic acid testing.

Despite the much lower actual yield than that estimated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nucleic acid testing (NAT)-only positives in the USA and Germany, look-back procedures have revealed that no HCV transmission has occurred in Germany since the introduction of NAT. This indicates sufficient sensitivity of the pool-PCR approach. The slow ramp-up of hepatitis B virus (HBV) however, may require a different approach. It has been shown in Germany that the pooling of samples followed by virus enrichment results in a significant yield. Single donation testing for HBV would not increase the yield, because virus enrichment from mini-pool results in a similar sensitivity to that of single donation testing. Both strategies may be useful for extending future NAT to HBV screening. New candidate viruses for NAT are Parvo B19 and hepatitis A virus (HAV) because of their extreme resistance to inactivation procedures. Their low pathogenicity and epidemiologic characteristics, however, make them candidate viruses only for pooled source plasma. The main future issues of NAT will be related to the automation of pooling, extraction and amplification as a single homogeneous process. Depending on the throughput, automated single donation NAT as demonstrated by the 'Tigris' system may be an option, as far as all transfusion-relevant viruses will be included. In the near future high throughput systems will rely on pooled donor samples, most probably in conjunction with efficient enrichment procedures. For these systems, automation of the extraction and amplification process will be one of the first steps. These procedures will also limitthe costs of NAT and keep it available for use with future candidate viruses.     

Should HBV DNA NAT replace HBsAg and/or anti-HBc screening of blood donors?

Prevention of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) has historically relied on serological screening of blood donors using progressively more sensitive HBsAg assays; in some countries anti-HBc assays have also been employed to detect chronic carriers with low-level viremia who lack detectable HBsAg. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) for HCV and HIV has been successfully introduced to screen donors in many developed countries over the past several years; for logistical and cost reasons HCV/HIV NAT screening has been applied to mini-pools (MP) of eight to 96 donor specimens, with only minimal impact of MP dilutions on clinical sensitivity for interdiction of window period (WP) donations. In several countries (e.g., Japan and Germany), HBV NAT has been added to HIV/HCV MP-NAT blood donor screening with small incremental yields of HBsAg/anti-HBc-negative donations, and the major vendors of NAT systems (Roche and Chiron/Gen-Probe) have been developing triplex assays that include HBV DNA detection capacity without compromising HIV or HCV detection. Pooled specimen HBV NAT has also become the standard of practice for screening source plasma donors, with pressure to include HBV DNA detection as a required procedure for use of recovered plasma in manufacture of fractionated derivatives. However, there is controversy over the magnitude of the incremental yield and clinical benefit of HBV MP-NAT over serological screening strategies, as well as the impact of implementation of HBV NAT on need for retention of HBsAg and anti-HBc screening. This presentation will review recent modeled and empirical data on the value of HBV MP- and individual donation (ID)-NAT for detection of (1) pre-HBsAg WP units and (2) chronic anti-HBc-reactive carriers with undetectable HBsAg. The presentation will also review policy considerations and data that address the potential for discontinuation of either HBsAg or anti-HBc following implementation of HBV NAT. Finally it will address the cost effectiveness of incorporation of HBV DNA detection into HBV screening and NAT testing algorithms.     

Evaluation of a new molecular assay for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA, hepatitis C virus RNA, and hepatitis B virus DNA.

BACKGROUND: Rapid, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective screening of donated blood to prevent transmission of infectious agents remains challenging. In recent years, incorporation of nucleic acid testing for HIV-1 and HCV RNA improved blood safety by reducing the window period between infection and serologic detection. For HBV infection, this window period with most serologic assays is 50-60 days. Adding a nucleic acid test (NAT) for HBV DNA with existing NATs for HIV-1 and HCV RNA would further improve blood safety and blood screening efficiency. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Procleix Ultrio Assay for simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV RNA and HBV DNA and corresponding discriminatory assays. STUDY DESIGN: The performance of these assays, which utilize the same technology and assay format as the Procleix HIV-1/HCV assay, was determined using relevant clinical specimens and analytical sensitivity and specificity panels. RESULTS: The Procleix Ultrio Assay demonstrated specificity of > or =99.5% in healthy donor blood specimens and in plasma containing potentially interfering substances or other blood-borne pathogens. Assay sensitivity demonstrated >95% detection of 100copies/mL, 30IU/mL, and 15IU/mL for HIV-1 and HCV RNA, and HBV DNA, respectively. The assay detects all known HIV-1 subtypes and HCV and HBV genotypes and is highly reproducible. Statistical analysis using receiver operating characteristic plots demonstrated wide analyte cutoff values for each assay associated with assay specificity and sensitivity of > or =99.5%. CONCLUSIONS: In this investigational study, the Procleix Ultrio Assay sensitivity and specificity were similar to existing NATs used in blood-bank settings to detect HIV-1 and HCV RNA and provided equivalent sensitivity and specificity for detection of HBV DNA. Using this combination assay, blood safety may be improved and the multiplex format enhances blood screening efficiency. The throughput capability of this assay is compatible with large volume processing and the chemistry is adaptable to full automation.     

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in healthy blood donors

Blood transfusion is an important route of transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Occult HBV infection can exist in the absence of HBsAg and can be detected by determining HBV DNA. To determine the occult HBV infection in healthy blood donors. One hundred adult healthy blood donors, negative for HBsAg, anti HCV, HIV-1 and other risk factors were screened for HBV DNA by PCR. All the healthy blood donors were negative for HBV DNA by PCR. Occult HBV infection does not occur in the healthy blood donors in the population studied.     

核酸检测技术在血液筛查中的应用研究

目的大样本、多方法调查深圳地区无偿献血人群中乙肝、丙肝和艾滋病病毒血清学阴性者的核酸阳性率,探讨在我国血液筛查中引进核酸扩增技术的必要性,了解和分析献血者血清学阴性核酸阳性感染状况。方法采用大样本数调查,应用ROCHE PCR-ELISA、PCR-微流芯片、实时荧光PCR方法和CHIRON TMA（转录依赖的扩增技术）多种方法对血清学检测阴性的献血者进行HBV DNA、HCV RNA和HIV-1RNA检测,对乙肝阳性献血者追踪检测ALT和乙肝两对半标志物,对丙肝核酸阳性献血者追踪检测ALT及抗-HCV及HBV DNA和HCV RNA病毒载量。结果共对141288人份血样进行了检测,检出HBsAg（-）、HBV DNA阳性28例,总阳性率为0.020%,其中21例为anti-HBc阳性,占0.015%。HIV-1RNA未检出阳性,17例HBsAg（-）、HBV DNA阳性样本追踪发现,9例发生了血清转换现象,4例呈窗口期特征,所有追踪的HBV DNA阳性献血者ALT检测结果正常。1例anti-HCV（-）、HCV RNA阳性献血者追踪发现为典型窗口期献血,ALT显著升高。结论应采用高灵敏度的核酸扩增技术筛查血液中的乙肝和丙肝病毒,可提高血液安全。     

Transfusion transmission of hepatitis B virus: still learning more about it

Background Despite continuous technical improvement in blood donation testing, hepatitis B infection remains a major risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infection. The residual risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission is related to the pre-seroconversion window period (WP), infection with immunovariant viruses, and with occult carriage of HBV infection (OBI). Results and discussion Reduction of HBV residual risk is achieved by developing more sensitive HBsAg test, by adopting anti-HBc screening when appropriate, and recently by implementing HBV nucleic acid testing (NAT), either in minipools or more efficiently in individual donations. Compared with serological testing, HBV NAT combines the ability to significantly reduce the window period and to detect OBIs. Clinical observations suggest lower transmission rate of occult HBV than WP. Lower transmission rate might be related to the low viral load generally observed in OBI donors or to the presence of defective variants associated with occult carriage. In addition, there is evidence that OBI-infected donors carrying neutralizing anti-HBs (∼50%) are unlikely to be infectious, while those with anti-HBc only may be more infectious especially in immunocompromised recipients. Immunodeficient elderly and patients receiving immunosuppressive treatments (organ transplantation or cancer chemotherapy) may be susceptible to infection with lower infectious dose even in the presence of anti-HBs. There is no evidence that blood from anti-HBc only positive/HBV DNA-negative donors is infectious. Present evidence suggests that the association of HBsAg and sensitive NAT screening adequately covers risks of HBV transfusion–transmission, allowing to dispense or discontinue anti-HBc screening, avoiding discarding non-infectious and precious blood units, particularly in high prevalence areas. Identification of ‘post-transfusion’ HBV infection relies essentially on clinical evidence of acute infection or on look-back exercises following the identification of HBV DNA-positive donations. To protect from HBV infection the increasing number of immunodeficient recipients, maximum sensitivity of HBV NAT is required. As these recipients are also at risk of viral reactivation when previously exposed, anti-HBc testing and storage of a pre-transfusion sample when anti-HBc-positive would prevent the difficulties of differentiating between transfusion–transmission and reactivation.     

Hepatitis B virus DNA in sera of blood donors and of patients infected with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus

With the use of PCR, we searched for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum samples from 415 HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive patients: 150 were blood donors, 106 had only hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and 159 had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (of which 88 were HCV positive and 71 were HCV negative). HBV DNA was detected in 4% of blood donors, 3.4% of HIV- and HCV-positive patients, and 24% of HCV-positive patients.     

Application of molecular biology to blood transfusion safety: the nucleic acid testing]

Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for HIV-1 and HCV has been introduced in France and became mandatory for all homologous blood donations since July 1st 2001 in addition to serology screening. Previously, a feasibility study led to the selection of 2 technologies : a TMA based assay (Chiron) uses the Procleix HIV-/HCV assay on pools of 8 samples and a PCR based assay from BioMérieux-Roche which is a combination of an RNA extraction system (NucliSens, BioMérieux) with a fully automated system for nucleic acid amplification and detection (Cobas Amplicor, Roche). This system uses the Cobas Ampliscreen HCV test v.2.0 and the The Cobas Ampliscreen HIV test v1.5, on 24 sample pools. Pooling was required because single-donation testing is not yet feasible, as a result of the limitations in automation available for all current NAT technologies. The two technologies were easily implemented and showed nearly the same detection limit for HCV RNA and HIV-1 RNA. During a one-year period, from July 1st 2001 to June 30, 2002, out of the 2.5 million donations tested, the NAT yield resulted in one HIV-1 RNA positive-antibody negative donation and one HCV RNA positive-antibody negative donation. Two HIV NAT positive-antibody negative donations were missed by minipool NAT because a very low viral load. Moreover, the NAT implementation did not impact on blood component availability, including platelet concentrates.     

献血人群隐匿性乙型肝炎病毒感染的流行病学和血清学研究

目的了解广州地区献血人群隐匿性乙型肝炎病毒感染（OBI）的流行病学和血清学情况。方法对广州地区199631例无偿献血者标本同时用ELISA法检测HBsAg、紫外-乳酸脱氢酶法检测ALT、核酸扩增技术（NAT）联合检测HBV/HCV/HIV及HBV单项鉴别试验,对HBsAg阴性HBV DNA阳性者进行随访,用荧光定量PCR检测病毒载量,用ELISA法检测乙肝两对半。结果 199631例标本中共检出104例HBsAg阴性HBV DNA阳性者,经随访有54例为OBI,OBI检出率为0.027%,年龄以46～55岁组检出率最高（P〈0.01）,外地身份证的献血者检出率高于广州市身份证者（P〈0.01）,OBI检出率与性别和献血次数无关（P〉0.05）。104例HBsAg阴性HBV DNA阳性的标本ALT均正常,病毒载量均〈1000IU/ml,平均值为162IU/ml。随访标本中,除6例ALT异常外其余均正常,54例OBI标本病毒载量均〈1000IU/ml,平均值为122IU/ml,乙肝两对半中抗-HBc阳性率明显高于其他项目（P〈0.01）。结论 HBsAg阴性献血者中存在OBI,有必要在献血者中开展核酸检测。     

Nucleic Acid Technology (NAT) testing for blood screening: impact of individual donation and Mini Pool – NAT testing on analytical sensitivity,screening sensitivity and clinical sensitivity

Globally, in a number of countries the donated blood is screened for serology markers for the Human immunodeficiency diseases‐1/2, the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Several medium human development index (HDI) countries with reasonably high percentage of transfusion transmitted infections (TTI) are evaluating nucleic acid technology (NAT) assays to detect these viruses. Serology assays are performed on individual samples, while NAT is performed on either the individual donation (ID) or on a wide array of minipool (MP)‐NAT testing formats. The limit of detection of ID‐NAT assays equals the analytical sensitivity and that of pool testing reflects the pool size dependent decreased sensitivity also known as screening sensitivity. To many end users, it is not obvious that pool testing will have less sensitivity. In this review, mathematically predicted pool size dependent increase in risk days which is applicable to assays of all technologies is substantiated with published experimental results with NAT standards, clinical NAT only detected yields and detection misses by MP‐NAT. In the second half, the blood banking system in India, the donor base, and the variables in serology testing are discussed to explain the wide range of reported NAT yields at 1/300 to 1/17 753. Currently, NAT is not mandated in India, and the cost–benefit value of NAT is being seriously debated. As <5 IU/ml of HIV‐1 and HBV have resulted in TTIs, and nearly 83% of the HBV NAT yields in India have <20 IU/ml viral load, the most sensitive assay in the most sensitive format needs to be practiced to ensure maximum blood safety.     

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND. Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are common in inner-city populations, but their frequency and interrelations are not well established. METHODS. During a six-week period, excess serum samples were collected, along with information on risk factors, from all adult patients presenting to an inner-city emergency department. The samples were assayed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HCV and HIV-1. RESULTS. Of the 2523 patients tested, 612 (24 percent) were infected with at least one of the three viruses. Five percent were seropositive for HBV, 18 percent for HCV, and 6 percent for HIV-1. HCV was found in 145 of the 175 intravenous drug users (83 percent), 36 of the 171 transfusion recipients (21 percent), and 5 of the 24 homosexual men (21 percent). Among black men 35 to 44 years of age, the seroprevalence of HCV was 51 percent. HBsAg was present in 9 percent of those whose only identifiable risk was possible heterosexual exposure. At least one viral marker was found in about 30 percent of the patients who were actively bleeding or in whom procedures were performed. Testing for HIV-1 alone would have failed to identify 87 percent of the patients infected with HBV and 80 percent of those infected with HCV. CONCLUSIONS. In a population of patients in an inner-city emergency room, HBV, HCV, and HIV-1 are all highly prevalent. However, routine screening for HIV-1 alone would identify only a small fraction of the patients who pose risks of severe viral infections, including HBV and HCV, to providers.     

Advancing blood transfusion safety using molecular detection in the country of Georgia

BackgroundIn 2015, the country of Georgia initiated its hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination program. Given a high background incidence of HCV infection, centralized nucleic acid testing (NAT) of blood donations was prioritized for implementation.Study design and methodsMultiplex NAT screening for HIV, HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) was launched in January 2020. An analysis was conducted of serological and NAT donor/donation data for the first year of screening (through December 2020).ResultsA total of 54,116 donations representing 39,164 unique donors were evaluated. Overall, 671 donors (1.7%) tested positive for at least one infectious marker by serology or NAT, with the highest prevalence among donors aged 40–49 years (2.5%; n = 200), male (1.9%; n = 524), replacement (2.8%; n = 153) and first time (2.1%; n = 642) donors. Sixty donations were seronegative but NAT positive, and therefore would not have been found by traditional serology testing alone. These were more likely among female vs. male (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.06; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.05–4.05), paid (aOR 10.15; 95%CI: 2.80–36.86) or voluntary (aOR 4.30; 95%CI: 1.27–14.56) vs replacement, and repeat vs. first time (aOR 13.98; 95%CI: 4.06–48.12) donors. On repeat serological testing (including HBV core antibody [HBcAb] testing), 6 HBV + donations, 5 HCV + donations and 1 HIV + donations were deemed NAT yield (detected through the implementation of NAT, and would have otherwise been missed by serology screening alone).ConclusionThis analysis offers a regional model for NAT implementation, demonstrating the feasibility and clinical utility in a nationwide blood program.