[The hepatitis C virus infection of Moscow blood donors].

A total of 1331 persons aged 18-53 years were screened for specific markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in their blood, among them 656 primary blood donors, 256 plasmapheresis donors, 111 HBsAg carriers and 306 primary donors with only anti-HBc in the blood. According to the results of assays obtained with the use of assay systems ORTHO ELISA and ABBOTT HCV EIA (USA), the detection rate of anti-HCV-C100-3 among primary blood donors in Moscow was 1.37% and was not different from that among HBsAg carriers (1.8%) and among donors with anti-HCV-C100-3 in the blood (1.6%) (p < 0.01). At the same time differences in the occurrence of anti-HCV-C100-3 circulation in significant plasmapheresis donors were detected: 2.71% (p < 0.01). Antibodies to HCV were detected significantly more frequently among male that female donors. No correlation was found between the detection of anti-HCV-C100-3 in the blood and anti-HBc IgG as the substitute marker of HCV infection.