Prevalenca protiteles anti-HBC med krvodajalci v Sloveniji ter pomen pri presejalnem testiranju
Prevalence of anti-HBC in Slovenian blood donors anf the impact on blood screening

slovenian

2008

volume 77, issue 1

Blood Donors   Epidemiology   Hepatitis B   Hepatitis B Antibodies   Prevalence

Slovensko zdravniško društvo
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Background Blood donor screening is one of the measures that contribute to thesafe blood supply. Safety is based on the prevalence of the infections in blood donors and on blood screening programmes. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc in Slovenian blood donors, to give an estimation on the frequency of occult hepatitis B and to predict the risk of HBV transmission to recipients by not excluding anti-HBc units. Methods A total of 5959 units were screened for anti-HBc by modified ELISA (ChLIA) on Prism testing system (Abbott). In repeatedly reactive samples, anti-HBs was tested as well. Results Among screened donors, the anti-HBc incidence rate was179/5959 (3.00%). There were 55 samples that were anti-HBc positive only (69.83% of anti-HBc pos, 0.90% of all donations). The number of units positivefor both antibodies was 124 (2.10% of all tested donations). No significant difference was noted in the prevalence between male (3.00%) and female (2.99%). As expected, there was a raise in frequency from 0.78% in a group of 18-29 years to 5.82% in a group 50-65 years. In the study group therewas one donor who was HBsAg carrier. Conclusion According to the results of this study, Slovenia is ranged among the countries with medium anti-HBc prevalence rate. Screening of donors would additionally contribute to the higher blood safety. The higher cost due to testing and destroying units is not acceptable, especially after the implementation of screening for HBV DNA and excluding the units that are really infectious.

16.09.2009