Does anti-HBc reactivity reflect 'lifestyle' risk in north London blood donors?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antibody to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) reactivity, as a marker of hepatitis B virus infection, reflects a 'lifestyle' risk in donors in North London, we have obtained detailed histories from donors with various manifestations of HBV infection.


METHODS
Interviews based on a standardised questionnaire were conducted with 70 donors confirmed to be anti-HBc reactive.


RESULTS
Comparison with controls (known to be anti-HBc-negative) and donors reactive for anti-hepatitis-C virus showed that current donor strategies are effective; in our area, reactivity for anti-HBc is not associated with a lifestyle risk for those donors who are unreactive in current mandatory screening tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood from donors positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs should be considered suitable for transfusion purposes. This is consistent with the practice of accepting blood from naturally immune donors for preparation of hepatitis B immunoglobulin.
Moore
M C
MC
North London, National Blood Service, Colindale, UK.
Godfrey
G S
GS
Hewitt
P E
PE
Barbara
J A
JA
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins