The prevalence of positive hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV serology in cornea donors prescreened by medical and social history in Ontario, Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the serum of cornea donors who had been previously screened by social and medical history by the Eye Bank of Canada, Ontario Division.


METHODS
A retrospective examination of the donor records of the Eye Bank of Canada, Ontario Division, was conducted. A total of 3,228 records were examined covering the period from May 17, 1993 to May 31, 1996.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HBV was determined to be 0.25%, HCV, 0.93%; and HIV, 0.031%.


CONCLUSIONS
The data revealed that despite the use of medical and social history to prescreen, a small percentage of prescreened donors test serologically positive. A comparison of the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV in the prescreened cornea donors to a similarly screened cohort of blood donors over a similar time period reveals a higher prevalence in all three diseases in the cohort of cornea donors. An examination of the demographic characteristics of the population as a whole versus the three groups with confirmed serology failed to show a significant difference between the seropositive and seronegative groups. This study confirms the value and necessity of serologic prescreening of cornea donors as is currently the standard of practice.
Armstrong
S A
SA
Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Gangam
N
N
Chipman
M L
ML
Rootman
D S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000821:virology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data