BACKGROUND: We present an analysis of the first 2 years of hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleic acid testing (NAT) of the Australian donor population. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between July 5, 2010, and July 4, 2012, all blood donations were screened for HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Donors who tested HBsAg negative but HBV NAT positive were assessed as occult hepatitis B infections (OBI) if reactive for antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc). Donors who were anti-HBc reactive but with nonrepeatable or nondiscriminated NAT results were assessed as HBV inconclusive pending follow-up testing. RESULTS: During the study period a total of 2,673,521 donations were screened for HBV. Forty-two chronic OBI infections (5.55/100,000 donors) were identified compared to eight acute serologic window period infections (1.06/100,000 donors). Of the 42 OBI cases, 23 (54.8%) were detected the first time they were screened for HBV DNA while 19 (45.2%) gave one or more HBV NAT-nonreactive results before detection. Of 68 donors initially assessed as HBV inconclusive and available for follow-up, 10 later confirmed as OBI cases while 51 were NAT nonreactive but remained anti-HBc reactive and OBI could not be excluded. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a substantially higher prevalence of OBI compared to acute serologic window period HBV infections in Australian blood donors. Follow-up testing of OBI cases indicates that HBV DNA is often only intermittently detectable in OBI, highlighting the importance of including anti-HBc to optimize the HBV testing algorithm.
BACKGROUND: We present an analysis of the first 2 years of hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleic acid testing (NAT) of the Australian donor population. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between July 5, 2010, and July 4, 2012, all blood donations were screened for HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Donors who tested HBsAg negative but HBV NAT positive were assessed as occult hepatitis B infections (OBI) if reactive for antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc). Donors who were anti-HBc reactive but with nonrepeatable or nondiscriminated NAT results were assessed as HBV inconclusive pending follow-up testing. RESULTS: During the study period a total of 2,673,521 donations were screened for HBV. Forty-two chronic OBI infections (5.55/100,000 donors) were identified compared to eight acute serologic window period infections (1.06/100,000 donors). Of the 42 OBI cases, 23 (54.8%) were detected the first time they were screened for HBV DNA while 19 (45.2%) gave one or more HBV NAT-nonreactive results before detection. Of 68 donors initially assessed as HBV inconclusive and available for follow-up, 10 later confirmed as OBI cases while 51 were NAT nonreactive but remained anti-HBc reactive and OBI could not be excluded. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a substantially higher prevalence of OBI compared to acute serologic window period HBV infections in Australian blood donors. Follow-up testing of OBI cases indicates that HBV DNA is often only intermittently detectable in OBI, highlighting the importance of including anti-HBc to optimize the HBV testing algorithm.
Authors: Claire E Styles; Anthea Cheng; Veronica C Hoad; Philip Kiely; Michael Watson; Clive R Seed Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2019-08-29 Impact factor: 3.747
Authors: Antonella Esposito; Chiara Sabia; Carmela Iannone; Giovanni F Nicoletti; Linda Sommese; Claudio Napoli Journal: Transfus Med Hemother Date: 2017-05-05 Impact factor: 3.747
Authors: María Elena Cárdenas-Perea; Eduardo Gómez-Conde; Gerardo Santos-López; Irma Pérez-Contreras; María Alicia Díaz-Orea; José Luís Gándara-Ramírez; Othón Rafael Cruz Y López; Luis Márquez-Domínguez; Francisca Sosa-Jurado Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2016-05-12 Impact factor: 3.452