title: Prevalence of antibodies to human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus in blood donors in north London.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of antibodies to the human T cell leukaemia/lymphoma viruses (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) in blood donors in north London in order to assess the economic impact and the logistic effects that routine screening would have on the blood supply.
  
  
  METHODS
  All donations collected by the north London blood transfusion centre between January 1991 and June 1991 were screened for antibodies to HTLV-I and HTLV-II by modified, improved Fujirebio gel particle agglutination test. Positive samples were titrated and retested as necessary.
  
  
  METHODS
  96,720 unpaid volunteers, who gave 105,730 consecutive donations of blood and plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  North London blood transfusion centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observed numbers of donors confirmed to be seropositive for HTLV by reference laboratories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2622 (2.5%) initially reactive samples, 414 (0.4% of all samples) gave a titre of > or = 1 in 16 on the modified agglutination test. Thirty five of the 414 serum samples yielded positive results on one of two enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA (Cambridge Biotech and Abbot)), and none of these results were confirmed by either reference laboratory. Five samples yielded positive results on both ELISAs and all five of these were confirmed to contain antibodies to HTLV. One of the five contained antibodies to HTLV-II and the others antibodies to HTLV-I. Four seropositive donors were white women whose only risk factor for infection was sexual contact. The fifth (positive for antibodies to HTLV-II) was an Anglo-Caribbean man who admitted to previous misuse of intravenous drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of antibodies to HTLV in blood donors in north London was one in 19,344 (0.005%). Up to 100 donors a year might be identified in the United Kingdom as being infected with HTLV, although prevalence in different regions may vary considerably.
authors.affiliation: North London Blood Transfusion Centre.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Runganga
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tedder
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garson
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tuke
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McAlpine
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tosswill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies