title: A prospective time-course study on serological testing for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus with blood samples taken up to 48 h after death.
abstract: The transmission of viral and non-viral infectious pathogens continues to be the most serious of the potential adverse effects of allogenic tissue transplantations. EU Directive 2006/17/EC stipulates that cadaveric blood specimens for serology testing in the context of post-mortem tissue donation must be taken not later than 24 h post-mortem. An expanded time slot would significantly improve the availability of tissue donations, but there are no significant data on the stability of infectious serology assays for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBC core antigen (HBc) in samples collected more than 24 h post-mortem. In this prospective study, serum samples of 30 deceased persons were taken upon admission to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany) and at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h post-mortem. All samples were measured twice, first using the Abbott AxSYM system, and then after ~9 months of storage at -70 °C using the BEP III System with Siemens and Ortho reagents. For HIV, six deceased persons with a pre-mortem HIV history were included. All samples (at committal and at 12, 24, 36, 48 h) were reactive. Indeterminate or false-negative results did not occur. For HCV, 17 deceased persons with a pre-mortem HCV history were included; 16 samples were reactive up to 48 h and one was reactive at 36 h post-mortem (48 h sample was not available). Indeterminate or false-negative results did not occur. For HBV, nine deceased persons were included: five samples were initially positive for HBsAg and remained positive up to 48 h, and eight of the samples were reactive for anti-HBc up to 48 h and one up to 36 h post-mortem (48 h sample was not available). Indeterminate or false-negative results did not occur. These data suggest that infectious serological testing may be extended for blood samples of potential tissue donors collected up to 48 h post-mortem to detect antibodies or antigens for HIV, HBV and HCV.
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistrasse, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Carolin
authors: C
authors: Edler
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistrasse, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Wulff
authors: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistrasse, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Ann-Sophie
authors: AS
authors: Schröder
authors: University Tissue Bank, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Ina
authors: I
authors: Wilkemeyer
authors: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistrasse, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Polywka
authors: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistrasse, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Meyer
authors: University Tissue Bank, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Kalus
authors: University Tissue Bank, Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Pruss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral