Retrospective follow-up of recipients and donors of blood donations reactive for anti-HBc or for single HCV antibodies.
A retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the infectivity of blood donations that were HCV RIBA indeterminate or reactive for 'anti-HBc only'. Samples from 6032 blood donations were tested for anti-HBc; 17 of them were positive for anti-HBc but were negative when tested for anti-HBs. None of the recipients of the red cells from these donations, when tested 9 months after transfusion, had evidence of HBV infection. Samples from 3000 blood donations were tested for HCV antibodies using RIBA-3; 53 had single lines. Samples taken 9 months after transfusion from the recipients of the red cells from these donations were tested for evidence of infection with hepatitis C, and all were negative.
Howell
D R
DR
National Blood Service, North London Centre, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5BG, UK. david_howell1@yahoo.com
Webster
M H
MH
Barbara
J A
JA
D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D006113:United Kingdom
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies