title: Evaluation of a multiplex human immunodeficiency virus-1, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus nucleic acid testing assay to detect viremic blood donors in northern Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening of blood donors with nucleic acid testing (NAT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been implemented recently in the United States. There are limited data, however, on the additional NAT yield of donors in developing countries in Asia where the prevalence of infection is higher. In addition, data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) NAT in high prevalence areas are minimal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5083 whole-blood donors at the Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, blood bank were evaluated with a commercially available NAT assay (Procleix Ultrio, Gen-Probe, Inc.) to screen individual donations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No NAT yield cases were found for HIV-1 or HCV. There were 17 samples with discrepant HBV DNA NAT and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) tests, however. Seven of these were HBV DNA NAT-positive, HBsAg-negative; of these 7, 1 was NAT-positive at baseline, but negative on follow-up, and considered a false-positive, 1 had an acute infection, and 5 had chronic prevalent HBV infections, for a NAT yield of 6 in 4798 HBsAg negative donors (1:800). In addition there were 10 NAT-negative, HBsAg-positive serum samples. All were anti-hepatitis B core antigen immunoglobulin G-positive; on testing with a more sensitive NAT target capture assay, 5 were positive (1.8-20.6 IU/mL) and 5 were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiplex NAT screening of individual-donor serum samples in Northern Thailand detected approximately 1 per 800 HBV NAT-positive, HBsAg-negative donors. The especially high prevalence of HBV infection in Thailand and other Asian countries suggests that HBV NAT screening of donors will be more cost-effective than in other areas.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors: Niwes
authors: N
authors: Nantachit
authors: Lakkana
authors: L
authors: Thaikruea
authors: Satawat
authors: S
authors: Thongsawat
authors: Nipapan
authors: N
authors: Leetrakool
authors: Ladda
authors: L
authors: Fongsatikul
authors: Prakai
authors: P
authors: Sompan
authors: Yiu-Lian
authors: YL
authors: Fong
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Nichols
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Ziermann
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Ness
authors: Kenrad E
authors: KE
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D013785:Thailand; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral