Serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection in healthy volunteer blood donors in Campania (Southern Italy).
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers was determined in a prospective fashion by radioimmunoassay in 2,084 healthy volunteer blood donors. The results showed that 51.2% of the donors were positive for at least one marker, and the percentage of occurrence of each marker was: HBsAg 5.3, anti-HBs alone 1.7, anti-HBc alone 10.8, anti-HBs and anti-HBc 33.3. Because of the size of the problem this investigation strongly demands further studies on the potential role of blood positive for anti-HBc in transmitting HBV infection in our geographical area.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens