title: Hepatitis-associated markers in the American Red Cross blood donor population. V. Prevalence of antibodies to core antigen in three blood services regions.
abstract: A total of 20,643 samples of blood donated to three American Red Cross Blood Service regions were tested for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in order to evaluate and understand its significance and implications. All 20,643 samples were non-reactive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) when screened at the regions. Overall, 2.2% of all samples were found to have anti-HBc, and a total of 16 had anti-HBc in the absence of antibodies to surface antigen (anti-HBs) activity. 1 of the 16 samples with anti-HBc in the absence of anti-HBs was found to have HBsAg when tested by a sensitive procedural modification of the Austria II test. Samples with low levels of anti-HBc activity were significantly more likely to be negative for anti-HBs.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012011:Red Cross; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens