Screening for viral markers in volunteer and replacement blood donors in West Africa.
OBJECTIVE
West Africa is a highly endemic area for viral infections. The prevalence of five viral markers was determined in Ghanaian blood donors.


METHODS
Replacement and volunteer blood donors were screened using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus antibodies (anti-HIV), HIV p24 antigen, human T-cell lymphocytotrophic virus-I and -II antibodies (anti-HTLV-I/II) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV).


RESULTS
HBsAg was present at an equally high frequency (15%) in young volunteer (median age 18 years) and older replacement (median age 33 years) blood donors. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HIV and anti-HCV was significantly higher in replacement blood donors (2.4 and 0.3%, respectively, P < 0.001). HCV RNA was detected in 74 or 55% of seropositive donors, depending on the confirmatory criteria used. No p24 antigen-positive/anti-HIV-negative donations were found. The prevalence of HTLV-I/II was generally low (0.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
All blood donations should be screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), HIV and HCV markers.
Sarkodie
F
F
Blood Service, Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
Adarkwa
M
M
Adu-Sarkodie
Y
Y
Candotti
D
D
Acheampong
J W
JW
Allain
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014838:Volunteers
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D015482:HTLV-II Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral