[Methodological considerations in the interpretation of serologic screening for hepatitis B virus among blood donors].
Between October 1988 and February 1989, 1,033 voluntary first-time blood donors were screened for hepatitis B infection in five blood banks in Goiâna, Central Brazil. The survey was part of a major study designed to estimate seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs and to discuss methodological issues related to prevalence estimation based on data from blood banks. Donors were interviewed and blood samples were collected and tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs by ELISA tests. Prevalences of 1.9% and 10.9% were obtained for HBsAg and anti-HBs, respectively, and no statistical difference was found between the sexes. Prevalence of anti-HBs increased with age (X2 for trend = 7.9 p = 0.004). The positive predictive value and sensitivity of history of jaundice or hepatitis reported in the interview in detecting seropositives were 13.6% and 2.2%, respectively. The methodological issues, including internal and external validity of HBV prevalence estimated among blood donors are discussed. The potential usefulness of blood banks as a source of morbidity information for surveillance for Hepatitis B virus infection is stressed.
Martelli
C M
CM
Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brasil.
de Andrade
A L
AL
das Dores
D
D
Cardoso
P
P
Almeida e Silva
S
S
Zicker
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies
Considerações metodológicas na interpretação do rastreamento sorológico da hepatite B em doadores de sangue.