title: U.K. multicentre study on blood donors for surrogate markers of non-A non-B hepatitis. Part I: Alanine transferase and anti-HBc testing.
abstract: Blood samples from 9,215 blood donors in three U.K. centres (North London, Bristol and Manchester) were tested for their alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and the presence of anti-HBc and anti-HCV. This paper presents the results of the ALT and anti-HBc tests. The prevalence of ALT > 45 IU/l was 3.1% overall (North London 3.06%, Bristol 4.56% and Manchester 1.97%). Manchester results were skewed by the methodology used for ALT measurement, highlighting the need for standard test methods. Anti-HBc was detected using the Wellcome enzyme-immunosorbent assay (EIA) and confirmatory testing was performed using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the Corecell haemagglutination assay. Repeat reactive rates were 0.9, 0.79 and 0.94% for North London, Bristol and Manchester, respectively, with an overall rate of 0.9%. The confirmed positive rate was 0.73, 0.53 and 0.65% for the three centres with an overall rate of 0.63%. Donors with an ALT > 45 IU/l, or with confirmed anti-HBc, were interviewed with a medical questionnaire for risk factors. The major contributing factors in donors with a raised ALT were alcohol consumption and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Regional Transfusion Centre, Bristol, U.K.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raafat
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Shwe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Gunson
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martlew
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mijovic
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Goldíe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase