AIM: To study the seroprevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in healthy blood donors negative for HBsAg and to evaluate whether anti-HBc detection could be adopted in India as a screening assay for HBV in addition to HBsAg. METHODS: A total of 1700 serum samples collected from HBsAg-negative healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of anti-HBc antibody (IgM + IgG). All samples reactive for anti-HBc antibody were then investigated for presence of anti-HBs and for liver function tests (LFTs). One hundred serum samples reactive for anti-HBc were tested for HBV DNA by PCR method. RESULTS: Out of 1700 samples tested, 142 (8.4%) blood samples were found to be reactive for anti-HBc. It was significantly lower in voluntary (6.9%) as compared to replacement donors (10.4%, P = 0.011). Seventy-two (50.7%) anti-HBc reactive samples were also reactive for anti-HBs with levels > 10 mIU/mL and 70 (49.3%) samples were non-reactive for anti-HBs, these units were labeled as anti-HBc-only. These 142 anti-HBc reactive units were also tested for liver function test. HBV DNA was detected in only 1 of 100 samples tested. CONCLUSION: Keeping in view that 8%-18% of donor population in India is anti-HBc reactive, inclusion of anti-HBc testing will lead to high discard rate. Anti-HBs as proposed previously does not seem to predict clearance of the virus. Cost effectiveness of introducing universal anti-HBc screening and discarding large number of blood units versus considering ID NAT (Individual donor nucleic acid testing) needs to be assessed.
AIM: To study the seroprevalence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in healthy blood donors negative for HBsAg and to evaluate whether anti-HBc detection could be adopted in India as a screening assay for HBV in addition to HBsAg. METHODS: A total of 1700 serum samples collected from HBsAg-negative healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of anti-HBc antibody (IgM + IgG). All samples reactive for anti-HBc antibody were then investigated for presence of anti-HBs and for liver function tests (LFTs). One hundred serum samples reactive for anti-HBc were tested for HBV DNA by PCR method. RESULTS: Out of 1700 samples tested, 142 (8.4%) blood samples were found to be reactive for anti-HBc. It was significantly lower in voluntary (6.9%) as compared to replacement donors (10.4%, P = 0.011). Seventy-two (50.7%) anti-HBc reactive samples were also reactive for anti-HBs with levels > 10 mIU/mL and 70 (49.3%) samples were non-reactive for anti-HBs, these units were labeled as anti-HBc-only. These 142 anti-HBc reactive units were also tested for liver function test. HBV DNA was detected in only 1 of 100 samples tested. CONCLUSION: Keeping in view that 8%-18% of donor population in India is anti-HBc reactive, inclusion of anti-HBc testing will lead to high discard rate. Anti-HBs as proposed previously does not seem to predict clearance of the virus. Cost effectiveness of introducing universal anti-HBc screening and discarding large number of blood units versus considering ID NAT (Individual donor nucleic acid testing) needs to be assessed.
Authors: H Yotsuyanagi; K Yasuda; K Moriya; Y Shintani; H Fujie; T Tsutsumi; N Nojiri; T Juji; H Hoshino; K Shimoda; K Hino; S Kimura; S Iino; K Koike Journal: Transfusion Date: 2001-09 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Steven H Kleinman; Mary C Kuhns; Deborah S Todd; Simone A Glynn; Anne McNamara; Anthony DiMarco; Michael P Busch Journal: Transfusion Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: M Schmidt; C M Nübling; H Scheiblauer; M Chudy; L A Walch; E Seifried; W K Roth; M K Hourfar Journal: Vox Sang Date: 2006-10 Impact factor: 2.144
Authors: Ajay Duseja; Sanjeev Sharma; P G Subramanian; S K Agnihotri; Anuradha Chakraborti; Y Chawla Journal: Indian J Pathol Microbiol Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 0.740
Authors: Mutiat K Ogunfemi; Hannah O Olawumi; Abdulfatai B Olokoba; Modu B Kagu; Sikiru A Biliaminu; Kabir A Durowade; Idayat A Durotoye; Akeem O Shittu Journal: Malawi Med J Date: 2017-03 Impact factor: 0.875