title: [Methodological considerations in the interpretation of serologic screening for hepatitis B virus among blood donors].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brasil.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: das Dores
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almeida e Silva
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zicker
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies
vernacular_title: Considerações metodológicas na interpretação do rastreamento sorológico da hepatite B em doadores de sangue.