Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan.
A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.
Department of Bacteriology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
J T
JT
Wang
T H
TH
Wang
J T
JT
Lin
C Z
CZ
Lee
J C
JC
Sheu
D S
DS
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral