Hepatitis B vaccination of blood donors--a cost-benefit analysis.
In an analysis comparing the costs of hepatitis B vaccination for blood donors versus the preventable expenses for post-transfusion hepatitis B (PTH-B), the price of a vaccine dose, the duration of protection, the number of components transfused per blood donation, the incidence of symptomatic PTH-B, and the costs induced by the different courses of hepatitis B infection are included as relevant factors. It is concluded that universal hepatitis B immunization of blood donors is desirable to ensure a safer blood supply and is already today cost-effective for repeat donors.
Gesemann
M
M
Institute for Laboratory Medicine, St. Markus Hospital, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
Gentner
P
P
Scheiermann
N
N
D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005858:Germany; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines