title: Hepatitis-associated markers in the American Red Cross volunteer blood donor population. I. Trends in HBsAg detection, 1975--1978.
abstract: From January 1975 to December 1978, 19,140,169 units of blood were collected by the American Red Cross at 57 regional locations. Each unit was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by a single commercial radioimmunoassay test system. A total of 15,954 donations were reported reactive, representing a rate of HBsAg reactivity of 0.83/1,000 units tested. The rate during 1975 was 0.94/1,000 units tested, decreasing to 0.71/1,000 units tested in 1978 (p < 0.005). The prevalence of HBsAg among first-time donors was 2.08/1,000 during 1977 and 1978, 2.7 times higher than that calculated for repeat donors (0.77/1,000 donors). Substantial geographic variation in the prevalence and rate of detection of HBsAg was observed.
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012011:Red Cross; D014481:United States; D014836:Volition
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens