Use of nucleic acid testing for blood donor screening of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus in the Saudi population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the risk of transfusion associated infection for human immunodeficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus using nucleic acid testing.


METHODS
During March 1998, 400 donor blood samples from the Saudi population that were negative by serology were further tested for human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 and Hepatitis C virus using nucleic acid testing.


RESULTS
A total of 400 were tested by nucleic acid testing, 381 of these were negative, 4 were indeterminate but were found to be negative on repeat testing and one seronegative sample was found to be positive for Hepatitis C virus.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the low prevalence of human immuno-deficiency virus in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, nucleic acid testing of blood donors by serology is adequate for screening. But the higher prevalence of Hepatitis C virus and increased risk of transmission would indicate that nucleic acid testing may be warranted for Hepatitis C virus in the near future.
Akhter
J
J
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (MBC 10), King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, PO Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Roberts
G T
GT
Perry
A
A
Gaucher
J S
JS
Howman
P A
PA
D001782:Blood Donors; D017931:DNA Primers; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers