title: HCV transmission through blood transfusion: are HCV-RNA titer in donor serum and genotype major determinants of infection outcome?
abstract: In this paper we report the results of a retrospective investigation on anti-HCV supplemental test positive blood donors from 1993 and 1994. 22 living recipients of blood/blood components from 15 donors were localized and enrolled in the study. Serum from these individuals were tested by serological assays and RT/PCR. HCV-RNA titer was determined for all positive donors. Genotyping was performed for all HCV-RNA positive individuals (donors and recipients). We observed that less than 50% of the recipients of previous donations from those positive donors did develop serological markers of HCV infection. HCV-RNA titers in donor's serum varied from 2 x 10(3) to 5 x 10(5) copies/ml but a direct correlation between viral RNA titer and the outcome of infection could not be established. Genotype investigation revealed 100% identity of genotypes within the pairs of donors/recipients. Genotype 1 b reached a prevalence of 75% within this group.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Service of Baden-Württemberg, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epple
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dengler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerowgan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kubanek
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral