A UK survey of virological testing of cadaver tissue donors. Microbiology Working Group of the NIBSC steering group on Tissue/Cell Banking and Engineering.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse information about virological testing of cadaveric tissue donors, including the kits used and the rates of test reactivity.


METHODS
Retrospective data were collected using a standardised questionnaire sent to 16 tissue banks in the UK. The rates of repeat reactive screen tests and confirmed positive results for the markers HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV were analysed in 1,833 cadaver tissue donors tested at 12 tissue banks over one year up to March 1998.


RESULTS
There was a wide range of kits in use for virological screen testing of cadaver donors. The rates of repeat reactivity in the screen tests varied from 0 to 42%.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have implications for policies based on discard of tissues from donors with repeat reactive results, and raise important safety issues with regards to cadaveric virological testing, as the test systems in use have not been validated for cadaver blood samples.
Stanworth
S J
SJ
National Blood Service, North London Centre, London, UK.
Warwick
R M
RM
Ferguson
M
M
Barbara
J A
JA
D002102:Cadaver; D003625:Data Collection; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014015:Tissue Banks; D014019:Tissue Donors; D006113:United Kingdom
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic