PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIBODY IN HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION OF BLOOD DONORS.

The transfusion of blood and blood products exposes recipients to both infectious and non-infectious adverse effects. Information on HCV infection in India is still sketchy. Data on small numbers of volunteer including replacement blood donors tested by ELISA has shown rates of 0.2-4%. 6602 volunteer including replacement blood donors reported to the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune with effect from 01 September 97 to 31 July 98. Screening for anti-HCV antibody was done by third generation ELISA kits. 29 donors were positive for anti-HCV antibody. The prevalence rate of HCV infection is 0.44% which compares with the studies from other centres. The prevalence rate was higher in the replacement donors as compared to voluntary donors. There is a need to include anti-HCV to the list of mandatory tests for screening of blood donors.