The prevalence of anti-HCV among Chinese voluntary blood donors in Taiwan.
In Taiwan, the prevalence of circulating anti-HCV is 2 percent among first-time voluntary Chinese blood donors, 10 percent among donors with elevated ALT levels (greater than 45 IU/L), and higher among older men. The carrier rate for HBsAg was 18.6 percent and the frequency of positive HBV marker(s) (HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs) was 86.4 percent among first-time donors. There is no significant correlation between HBV and HCV infections in Taiwan, because there is no significant difference in the frequency of anti-HCV among donors with or without HBV markers. The frequency of anti-HCV among qualified donors in Taiwan (ALT less than 45 IU/L, not tested for anti-HBc) is 1.8 percent, which is not significantly different from the frequency (1.6%) in donors with normal ALT and negative for HBV marker(s) (qualified donors by Western Standards). Therefore, ALT is the most important surrogate marker for HCV infection in Taiwan.
Lin-Chu
M
M
Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsai
S J
SJ
Watanabe
J
J
Nishioka
K
K
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006518:Hepatitis Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase