Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in India: a five‐year study

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are important transfusion‐transmissible infections. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of HBV and HCV seropositivity among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital–based blood bank in India. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The blood donation records over 5 years (2005‐2009) were reviewed, retrospectively, for the prevalence and yearly trends of HBV and HCV seropositivity. RESULTS: A total of 94,716 donations were received. The overall number of HBV‐seropositive donations was 1353 and that for HCV was 537, with the prevalence rates of 1.43% for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 0.57% for HCV. The seropositivity rate was higher in the replacement donors compared to the voluntary donors. The annual rates showed decreasing trends in case of HBsAg, but in case of HCV, there was a linear increase. CONCLUSIONS: Our study raises serious concerns regarding the HBV and HCV prevalence in our country. Although HBV showed decreasing trends, it cannot be relied upon because the donors were screened only for HBsAg. HCV is clearly on the rise. Stringent measures need to be taken on urgent basis including dissemination of information, strict screening of blood, inclusion of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and other sensitive markers to the screening protocol, and better donor recruitment.     

血液透析患者肝炎病毒感染危险因素分析

目的 了解血液透析患者乙型、丙型和庚型肝炎病毒(HBV、HCV和HGV)感染及合并感染的危险因素。方法 采用酶联免疫法(ELISA)检测了44例血透患者的HBV标志物、抗-HCV和抗-HGV抗体,逆转录-套式PCR法检HCV BNA及HGV RNA。结果 血透患者三种肝炎总感染率达77.3％,HBV、HCV、HGV感染率分别为72.7％、13.6％和13.6％,HBV/HCV、HCV/HGV、HGV/HBV合并感染分别为11.4％、2.3％和11.4％,HBV、HCVT HGV三重感染率为2.3％。HCV感染与输血次数、透析年限明显相关,而HBV和HGV感染与输血次数、透析年限无显著相关。肝炎病毒合并感染组与单纯感染组、阴性组比较,输血次数明显增多、透析年限明显延长。结论 血透患者HBV、HCV和HGV感染率均较高。严格消毒措施,减少输血,血源筛查,对减少透析中肝炎病毒感染至关重要。     

The risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections in sub‐Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusions carry the risk of transmitting infections. This risk has been studied in detail in high‐income countries but not in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study estimates the risks of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a single unit of blood in sub‐Saharan Africa. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A mathematical model was constructed to quantify transfusion risks across 45 sub‐Saharan African countries using three components: the risk of a contaminated unit entering the blood supply, the risk that the unit will be given to a susceptible patient, and the risk that receipt of the unit will lead to infection in the recipient. Variables included prevalence of infection in donors, extent of blood testing, test sensitivity, and susceptibility of recipients. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region and a systematic review of the literature were used to parameterize the model. Uncertainty in the risk estimates was quantified using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The median overall risks of becoming infected with HIV, HBV, and HCV from a blood transfusion in sub‐Saharan Africa were 1, 4.3, and 2.5 infections per 1000 units, respectively. If annual transfusion requirements projected by the WHO were met, transfusions alone would be responsible for 28,595 HBV infections, 16,625 HCV infections, and 6650 HIV infections every year. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the true risks may be even higher. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to systematically quantify the risks of transfusion‐transmitted infections across sub‐Saharan Africa. Although the results are limited by the quality and quantity of available data, these may be the most reliable estimates at this time.     

Transfusion-transmissible viral infections among US military recipients of whole blood and platelets during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom

BACKGROUND: Current US military clinical practice guidelines permit emergency transfusions of non–Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐compliant freshly collected blood products in theaters of war. This investigation aimed to characterize the risks of transfusion‐transmitted infections (TTIs) associated with battlefield transfusions of non–FDA‐compliant blood products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: US Service members who received emergency transfusion products in Iraq and Afghanistan (March 1, 2002‐September 30, 2007) were tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections using reposed pre‐ and posttransfusion sera. Selected regions of viral genomes from epidemiologically linked infected recipients and their donors were sequenced and compared. RESULTS: Of 761 US Service members who received emergency transfusion products, 475 were tested for HCV, 472 for HIV, and 469 for HBV. One transfusion‐transmitted HCV infection (incidence rate of 2.1/1000 persons) was identified. The pretransfusion numbers (prevalence per 1000 persons) were HCV—four (8/1000), HIV—zero (0/1000), chronic HBV—two (4 /1000), and naturally immune (antibody to HBV core antigen)—nine (19/1000). CONCLUSION: One HCV TTI was determined to be associated with emergency blood product use. The pretransfusion HCV and HBV prevalence in transfusion recipients, themselves members of the potential donor population, indicates better characterization of the deployed force's actual donor population, and further investigations of the TTI prevalence in these donors are needed. These data will inform countermeasure development and clinical decision making.     

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Korea

Mortality due to liver cancer in Korea ranks as one of the highest in the world. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are high-risk factors for liver cancer. Although HBV is by far the more important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, HCV infection is more closely associated with HCC in elderly patients. Therefore, the evaluation of risk factors for HCV infection, including blood transfusion, is important. This study reviews the literature on HCV prevalence and risk factors among the general population, as well as the distribution of HCV genotypes in Korea. An overall estimate of the prevalence of anti-HCV among Koreans older than 40 years was 1.29% (95% confidence interval 1.12-1.48) during 1995-2000. Blood transfusion was the strongest risk factor for transmission of HCV infection. Risk factors for HCV infection in Korea other than blood transfusion and history of acupuncture have not been proven. The most prevalent HCV genotype is 1b followed by 2a. Even though the prevalence of anti-HCV in Korea has been reduced and the risk of HCV transmission through blood transfusion has markedly decreased, public-health programs to prevent de novo infections should be developed. Moreover, most people infected with HCV in Korea are older than 40 years, and therefore, the surveillance of adults (> or =40 years) for HCV infection will be helpful in early detection of HCC developing in them.     

Prevalence of hepatitis G in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly described RNA virus from the family of flaviviridae. It is closely related to the hepatitis C Virus (HCV) but is more common than HCV among healthy blood donors. The pathogenicity of HGV in immunosuppressed patients such as those undergoing hemodialysis is unclear. We measured the incidence of HGV in 105 patients undergoing hemodialysis in a chronic outpatient hemodialysis facility. HGV-RNA was detected using a RT-PCR method with primers directed against the 5' non-coding region and the NS5a gene of HGV. Nine (8.6%) patients were HGV RNA positive, eleven (10.5%) were anti-HCV positive, three (2.9%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Four patients were positive for both HGV and HCV; three of them had normal liver enzymes while one showed elevated ALT levels but no other signs of exacerbation of preexisting hepatitis. The prevalence of HGV among dialysis patients is comparable to that of HCV. The transmission route for HCV is nosocomial transmission during dialysis, whereas HGV shows both ways of transmission: blood transfusion mediated by a high prevalence of HGV among healthy blood donors and nosocomial transmission. HGV appears to play a minor role in acute hepatitis, even in immunosuppressed patients.     

Comparison of demographic and donation profiles and transfusion-transmissible disease markers and risk rates in previously transfused and nontransfused blood donors

BACKGROUND: Increasing concern about transfusion transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has resulted in indefinite deferral of transfused donors in France and the UK. Little is known, however, about the impact of indefinite deferral of transfused donors on blood safety and availability in the US. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected on allogeneic donations at five US blood centers during 1991 through 2000. Donation characteristics, prevalence, and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were compared between transfused and nontransfused donors. Unreported deferrable risk (UDR) and reasons to donate were evaluated with data from a mail survey. RESULTS: Transfusion history was reported by 4.2 percent of donors. Prevalence and incidence of HIV and HBV were comparable between transfused and nontransfused donors. Although HCV incidence was similar in both groups, HCV prevalence was nearly three times higher in transfused than in nontransfused first-time donors. UDR and reasons to donate were similar in the two groups, except transfused donors were less likely to donate for screening test results (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.8). CONCLUSION: Transfused and nontransfused donors had similar viral incidence and comparable UDR, suggesting that indefinite deferral of transfused donors would unlikely improve blood safety. Until more is known about the prevalence and transfusion transmissibility of emerging agents, indefinite deferral of previously transfused donors in the US does not appear warranted.     

Prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis B and C viruses in Brazilian blood donors and incidence and residual risk of transfusion transmission of hepatitis C virus

BACKGROUND: We evaluate the current prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors and estimated HCV incidence and residual transfusion‐transmitted risk at three large Brazilian blood centers. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on whole blood and platelet donations were collected from January through December 2007, analyzed by center; donor type; age; sex; donation status; and serologic results for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc), and anti‐HCV. HBV and HCV prevalence rates were calculated for all first‐time donations. HCV incidence was derived including interdonation intervals that preceded first repeat donations given during the study, and HCV residual risk was estimated for transfusions derived from repeat donors. RESULTS: There were 307,354 donations in 2007. Overall prevalence of concordant HBsAg and anti‐HBc reactivity was 289 per 100,000 donations and of anti‐HCV confirmed reactivity 191 per 100,000 donations. There were significant associations between older age and hepatitis markers, especially for HCV. HCV incidence was 3.11 (95% confidence interval, 0.77‐7.03) per 100,000 person‐years, and residual risk of HCV window‐phase infections was estimated at 5.0 per million units transfused. CONCLUSION: Improvement in donor selection, socioeconomic conditions, and preventive measures, implemented over time, may have helped to decrease prevalence of HBV and HCV, relative to previous reports. Incidence and residual risk of HCV are also diminishing. Ongoing monitoring of HBV and HCV markers among Brazilian blood donors should help guide improved recruitment procedures, donor selection, laboratory screening, and counseling strategies.     

Trends in hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus seropositivity among blood donors over 15 years screened in the blood bank of a university hospital

Blood transfusion carries well defined risks including hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus transmission. In this study, records of blood donation candidates between the years 1996-2010 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 220 841 apparently healthy adult donors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The overall prevalence of HbsAg and HCV were 1.07% and 0.39%, respectively. HBV seroprevelance decreased through years 1996-2010 but HCV seroprevelance showed a fluctuant course decreasing from 1996 to 2002. In order to decrease transfusion transmitted infections there should be centralized blood collection systems having qualified staff, equipment and non-remunerated voluntary blood donations must be strongly encouraged.     

Efficacy and safety of transfusion therapy in hematological patients

AIM: To determine whether probability of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV/HCV) infection of hematological patients depends on intensity of hemotransfusion therapy and to propose possible ways to diminish posttransfusion risk of virus infection with HBV/HCV. MATERIAL AND METHODS; A clinicoepidemiological prospective trial was made to monitor risk factors and indicators of HBV and HCV infection in 216 patients of a hematological department of the Hematological Research Center. A total of 447 hospitalizations (229 rehospitalizations among them) to the department of chemotherapy, depression of hemopoiesis and bone marrow transplantation for 2 years were analysed. Statistics were analysed using SAS computer programs and the "landmark method". RESULTS: Transfusions of blood components before initiation of the trial were performed in 201 (93%) patients, 120 (60%) patients received more than one transfusion (median of the number of donors was 40). Markers of virus hepatitis were initially detected 1 month after hospitalization in 103 (47.7%) patients: HCV--in 26 (12%), HBV--in 77 (35.6%); 18 (17.5%) patients were coinfected (HBV/ HCV). Probability of detection of HBV and HCV markers in patients with multiple transfusions was significantly higher than in patients with a short transfusion history (50% probability of HBV and HCV infection was 153 and 251 days, respectively, p = 0.059). CONCLUSION: Reduction of aftertreatment lethality and, finally, treatment efficacy in hematological patients depends on adequacy of replacement therapy with blood components, platelets first of all. High percentage of HBV and HCV infection confirms dependence of infection probability on the number of donors. Thus, patients with planned massive replacement therapy should be provided with specially selected donors. Blood for transfusion for them should be examined for viruses repeatedly.     

维持性血液透析患者病毒性肝炎感染分析

目的了解维持性血液透析患者病毒性肝炎感染情况及危险因素,探讨预防血液透析患者感染病毒性肝炎的措施。方法对2009～2011年中国医科大学附属第一医院肾内科血液透析室的125例维持性血液透析患者,采用化学发光法检测丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)抗体及乙型肝炎6项,回顾分析维持性血液透析患者的临床资料。结果 125例维持性血液透析患者肝炎病毒感染率分别为乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)23.2%,丙型肝炎病毒5.6%。不同年龄和性别在病毒性肝炎感染率差异无显著性(P>0.05),HBV感染组、非感染组在输血次数差异无显著性(P>0.05),在透析时间差异具有显著性(HBV感染组60.1±25.7月比非感染组43.0±25.3月,P<0.01)。HCV感染组、非感染组在输血次数(HCV感染组85.7%vs.非感染组15.7%,P<0.05)、透析年限(HCV感染组65.9±35.9月比非感染组43.0±25.3月,P<0.05)的差异均有显著性。结论血液透析患者是肝炎病毒感染的高危人群,乙型肝炎感染率在输血次数的差异无显著性,与透析年限的差异有显著性,丙型肝炎感染率随输血次数及血液透析时间的延长而增高。严格隔离可以预防医院内交叉感染的发生。     

Seroprevalence and trends of transfusion transmissible infections among retrospective blood donors in Western Azerbaijan Regional Blood Transfusion Center,Iran: A ten-years evaluation

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) have been a public health challenge for the accessibility, quality and safety of blood transfusion. The present study aimed to consider the prevalence and the trends of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis across the ten years among retrospective blood donors. A retrospective investigation of blood donors’ data covering the period from 22 May 2009 to 22 May 2019 was done. Data was accumulated and analyzed from Blood Transfusion Center records, pertaining to all donors who were screened for various TTIs using respective immunological techniques. Out of the 682,171 screened donors in the 2009–2019 study period, 2470 (0.36 %) were infected with at least one infectious agent. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, HIV and syphilis were 1700 (0.25 %), 184 (0.027 %), 335 (0.05 %), 4 (0.0.05 %) and 247 (0.036 %), respectively. The study showed male dominated donor pool (96.79 %) with higher prevalence (0.34 %) of TTIs compared to female donors (0.02 %) with 3.21 % population. Despite the low prevalence of TTIs in our study, HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV have remained a big threat to safe blood transfusion in Iran. Strict adherence to selection criteria, algorithm of donor screening, use of highly sensitive and specific methods for detection of TTIs, regular consultation and health education programs, prevention and sanitization strategies to reduce the risk of TTIs are recommended to reduce the risk of TTIs and ensure the safety of blood transfusion for recipient.     

Studies of donors who transmit posttransfusion hepatitis

Sera and questionnaires were evaluated retrospectively from 128 volunteer blood donors whose blood had been implicated in cases of clinically recognized post-transfusion hepatitis in recipients of one- or two-unit blood transfusion between 1971 and 1977. Serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were found in 23 percent, compared to 9.7 percent of 3,230 prospective blood donors. The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus was similar among implicated donors (44%), prospective donors (58%), and among those implicated donors with (41%) and without (44%) HBV markers. Among implicated donors, none had a history at the time of donation of having had clinically recognizable hepatitis, 93 percent had no history of prior blood transfusion, and 80 percent had normal hepatic enzymes. Data from this study confirm that non-A, non-B hepatitis has been a common form of posttransfusion hepatitis in recent years, since 77 percent of these implicated donors had no HBV serologic markers. In addition, these donors could not be distinguished by age, race, sex, history of clinical hepatitis or of prior blood transfusion, or in most cases by hepatic enzyme levels.     

Impact of individual-donation nucleic acid testing on risk of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus transmission by blood transfusion in South Africa

BACKGROUND: In 2005, the South African National Blood Service introduced individual-donation (ID) nucleic acid test (NAT) screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. At the same time the use of ethnic origin to prioritize the transfusion of blood according to a hierarchy of residual risk was discontinued.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: ID-NAT (Ultrio on Procleix Tigris, Chiron) and serology (PRISM, Abbott) repeat test and confirmation testing algorithms were designed to enable differentiation between false-positive and true-NAT and -serology yields. After 1 year, the NAT and serology yield rates in first-time, lapsed, and repeat donors were analyzed and used to estimate the residual risk of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections by blood transfusion.
RESULTS: The HIV, HBV, and HCV ID-NAT window phase yield rates in 732,250 blood donations were 1:45,765, 1:11,810, and 1:732,200, respectively. Seven of 16 HIV window phase donations with viral loads above 16,000 copies/mL were HIV p24 antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive. PRISM detected anti-HIV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 89.4 and 73.9% of early infections in repeat donors. The Procleix assay detected viremia in 99.7 and 95.5% of anti-HIV– and HBsAg-positive first-time donors. In these donors, the occult HBV DNA carrier rate was 1:5200. The residual transmission risk of ID-NAT HIV, HBV, and HCV window phase donations was estimated at 1:479,000, 1:61,500, and 1:21,000,000 respectively.
CONCLUSION: One-year ID-NAT screening of 732,250 donations interdicted 16 HIV, 20 HBV, and 1 HCV window phase donations and 42 anti-hepatitis B core antigen–reactive infections during an early recovery or a later stage of occult HBV infection.     

维持性血液透析患者肝炎病毒感染发生情况及原因分析

目的调查分析维持性血液透析患者病毒感染情况及相关因素。方法收集于解放军总医院肾内科行维持性血液透析的163例患者的临床资料,观察乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)及丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染情况并分析其与透析时间、肾移植史、外科手术史及输血的关系。结果纳入研究的163例患者中,感染HBV的患者18例(11.0%),感染HCV的患者14例(8.6%)。感染HCV患者的透析龄最长,为(79.0±51.6)月,同时,感染HCV的患者肾移植病史及外科手术史比例也高于其他两组患者。分析HCV及HBV首次发现时间,患者感染HCV多发生在肾移植术后,感染HBV多发生于透析开始前,而发生在透析间期的比例不高。结论血液透析患者中,感染HCV与HBV患者的比例无明显差异,但感染HCV的患者多继发于肾移植、手术及输血,而感染HBV的患者多为原发。因此,加强对血液透析患者继发感染HCV的控制十分重要。     

Residual risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infections in Shenzhen, China, 2001 through 2004

BACKGROUND: There are no current estimates of the residual risks of transmission by blood of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China. Such estimates are an essential prerequisite to monitoring and improving transfusion safety as well as supporting evidence based assessment of the value of implementing new screening interventions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Viral screening data for donors from Shenzhen, China, for the period 2001 to 2004, were retrospectively analyzed. The data were applied to a published model to estimate the residual risk of transmitting HIV, HBV, and HCV by blood transfusion in Shenzhen, as well as to assess the residual risk reduction value of various new tests. RESULTS: The point estimates for the combined 2003 and 2004 period calculate as 1 in 17,501 for HBV, 1 in 59,588 for HCV, and 1 in 903,498 for HIV. The predicted yield for improved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays, minipool (MP) nucleic acid testing (NAT), and individual-donation (ID) NAT was 6.9, 9.5, and 28.3 per million donations, respectively. The predicted yield for implementing a fourth-generation HCV (antigen-antibody) or MP NAT assay was 13.4 or 14.7 per million donations, respectively. For HIV, the predicted yield for implementing a fourth-generation HIV (antigen-antibody) or MP NAT assay was markedly smaller, 0.25 or 0.65 per million donations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to that reported for Western blood systems, the prevalence and the residual risk of HBV and HCV are high, whereas HIV is comparable. Pending a formal cost-effectiveness study for NAT, implementing improved HBsAg and combination HCV antibody-antigen assays in Shenzhen would markedly reduce the residual risk.     

Predonation screening of blood donors with rapid tests: implementation and efficacy of a novel approach to blood safety in resource-poor settings

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage of screened blood is limited to approximately 75 percent for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies (anti-HIV), 50 percent for hepatitis B surface antigen, and 19 percent for hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV), mainly because of costs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In 2002 to 2003, candidate blood donors were screened before donation for HIV, HCV, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers with rapid tests. The efficacy of this screening was assessed by nucleic acid testing (NAT) applied to pools of 10 plasma samples from donated units with a virus specific triplex assay. NAT-reactive pools were resolved by viral genome identification in individual plasma sample. Deferred candidate donors were referred to a donor-care program. RESULTS: A total of 9372 people were screened and 1534 (16.4%) were deferred. No HIV or HCV RNA-containing samples remained undetected by rapid tests unless a human testing error was involved. In contrast, 1.3 and 3.0 percent of HBV DNA-containing blood units were negative with rapid tests but were detected in individual donations with enzyme immunoassay and genomic amplification, respectively. Only half of these units were detectable in pools of 10 samples. One-third of deferred candidate donors attended the donor-care program and were informed and counseled. CONCLUSIONS: Predonation viral screening of blood donors is effective in high endemic areas, and the savings it generates may improve the safety and limit the cost of blood. Communication with deferred donors may contribute to public health. A new screening strategy associating serologic rapid test before donation and NAT on pools of 10 plasma samples after donation is proposed.     

Lack of epidemiological evidence for a role of resolved hepatitis B virus infection in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with hepatitis C virus in Japan

OBJECTIVE: The role of resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in promoting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Japan was evaluated by epidemiological surveys. METHODS: Antibody to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) was determined in age-matched blood donors, and the frequency was compared with that in patients with HCV-associated HCC in Japan. RESULTS: Anti-HBc was detected significantly more frequently in the blood donors with than without antibody to HCV (anti-HCV; 76/135 or 56.3% vs. 65/255 or 25.5%, p < 0.001). In the patients with HCV-associated HCC, anti-HBc was detected in 109 of 202 (54.0%), which was comparable to the frequency in anti-HCV-positive blood donors (56.3%). Among the blood donors with anti-HCV, the prevalence of anti-HBc was no different between those with and without HCV RNA in serum (40/77 or 51.9% vs. 36/58 or 62.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The individuals of an age with high cancer frequency (>or=40 years) in Japan would have been exposed to HBV frequently (>50%), whether or not they have developed HCV-associated HCC. Despite repeated assertions in the literature, no epidemiological evidence was obtained for a role of past HBV infection in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with HCV in Japan.     

Evaluation of a multiplex human immunodeficiency virus-1, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus nucleic acid testing assay to detect viremic blood donors in northern Thailand

BACKGROUND: Screening of blood donors with nucleic acid testing (NAT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been implemented recently in the United States. There are limited data, however, on the additional NAT yield of donors in developing countries in Asia where the prevalence of infection is higher. In addition, data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) NAT in high prevalence areas are minimal. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 5083 whole-blood donors at the Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, blood bank were evaluated with a commercially available NAT assay (Procleix Ultrio, Gen-Probe, Inc.) to screen individual donations. RESULTS: No NAT yield cases were found for HIV-1 or HCV. There were 17 samples with discrepant HBV DNA NAT and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) tests, however. Seven of these were HBV DNA NAT-positive, HBsAg-negative; of these 7, 1 was NAT-positive at baseline, but negative on follow-up, and considered a false-positive, 1 had an acute infection, and 5 had chronic prevalent HBV infections, for a NAT yield of 6 in 4798 HBsAg negative donors (1:800). In addition there were 10 NAT-negative, HBsAg-positive serum samples. All were anti-hepatitis B core antigen immunoglobulin G-positive; on testing with a more sensitive NAT target capture assay, 5 were positive (1.8-20.6 IU/mL) and 5 were negative. CONCLUSION: Multiplex NAT screening of individual-donor serum samples in Northern Thailand detected approximately 1 per 800 HBV NAT-positive, HBsAg-negative donors. The especially high prevalence of HBV infection in Thailand and other Asian countries suggests that HBV NAT screening of donors will be more cost-effective than in other areas.     

Impact of nucleic acid testing for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus on the safety of blood supply in Italy: a 6-year survey

BACKGROUND: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been implemented in several European countries and in the United States, while hepatitis B virus (HBV) NAT is still being questioned by opinions both in favor and against such an option, depending on the HBV endemicity, health care resources, and expected benefits. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This survey was aimed to assess the NAT impact in improving the safety of blood supply in Italy, 6 years after implementation. The study involved 93 Italian transfusion centers and was carried out in 2001 through 2006. A total of 10,776,288 units were tested for the presence of HCV RNA, 7,932,430 for HIV RNA, and 3,405,497 for HBV DNA, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty‐seven donations or 2.5 per million tested were HCV RNA–positive/anti‐HCV–negative; 14 or 1.8 per million units tested were HIV RNA–positive/anti‐HIV–negative; and 197 or 57.8 per million donations tested were HBV DNA–positive/hepatitis B surface antigen–negative. Of the latter, 8 (2.3/10⁶) were collected from donors in the window phase of infection and 189 (55.5/10⁶) from donors with occult HBV. Sixty‐eight percent of the latter donors had hepatitis B surface antibody, 74.5 percent of whom with concentrations considered protective (≥10 mIU/mL). CONCLUSION: NAT implementation has improved blood safety by reducing the risk of entering 2.5 HCV and 1.8 HIV infectious units per million donations into the blood supply. The yield of NAT in detecting infectious blood before transfusion was higher for HBV than for HCV or HIV. However, the benefit of HBV NAT in terms of avoided HBV‐related morbidity and mortality in blood recipients needs to be further evaluated.