The offect of Anti-HBc detection in egyptian blood donors negative for HBsAg in reducing the risk of transfusion associated HBV infection

Abstract EN

Background : In spite of the progress made in the prevention of transfusion transmitted infections over the last few years, transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through transfusion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative blood has been documented.

Objective: 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 Egypt as a screening assay for HBV in addition to HBsAg.

Methods : In across sectional study, a total of 3043 blood donors were screened in 2009 for the following viral markers: hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and human immunodeficiency virus I / II (anti-HIV I / 11).

Nine hundred and four samples negative for HBsAg (323 samples with elevated ALT level and 581 with normal ALT level) were tested for the presence of anti- HBc.

Results : One hundred and sixty two samples (17.92 %) were reactive for anti-HBc.

The present study showed 20.12 % and 16.7 % anti-HBc positivity for samples with elevated and normal ALT level respectively.

Conclusion : Anti-HBc should be tested routinely in blood-donor volunteers.

Rejection of anti- HBc positive units will be beneficial in decreasing the risk of HBV transmission with its potential consequences.