title: Anti-HBc screening in Egyptian blood donors reduces the risk of hepatitis B virus transmission.
abstract: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors is considered as a potential risk for transmission of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBC) positivity in Egyptian blood donations as well as to estimate the frequency of HBV-DNA in anti-HBc-positive donations. The study included 760 Egyptian healthy blood donors, representing 26 different Egyptian governorates screened according to routine practice for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Abs), HIV-1/2 Abs and Treponema Abs. The accepted blood units for donation were tested for the presence of total anti-HBc Abs by two tests. Positive units for anti-HBc were further tested for HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction. According to routine screening, a total of 48/760 units (6.3%) were rejected [38 (5%) HCV-Ab-positive units, 9 (1.18%) HbsAg-positive units and 1 (0.13%) Treponema-Ab-positive unit]. Among the accepted blood units for donation, prevalence of anti-HBc was 78/712 units (10.96%). HBV-DNA was detected in 9/78 (11.54%) of the anti-HBc-positive units, and thus, occult HBV infection was detected in 9/712 (1.26%) of the accepted blood donations. Implementing anti-HBc test to the routine assay for the forthcoming two decades would certainly eliminate possible HBV-infected units. Rejection of these units will be beneficial to decrease the risk of HBV transmission with its potential consequences particularly in immunocompromised recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. clcz@tedata.net.eg
authors.forename: A-R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: El-Zayadi
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Badran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeid
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Moneib
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shemis
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Sattar
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ahmady
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Nakeeb
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000379:methods; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014208:Treponema; D014211:Treponemal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies