title: Pre- and post-transfusion testing for hepatitis B virus surface antigen and antibody in blood recipients: a single-institution experience in an area of high endemicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B remains the most common transfusion-transmitted viral infection. We explored the current status of pre-transfusion screening and post-transfusion follow-up testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies (anti-HBs) in blood recipients from an area of high HBV endemicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 7,780 blood recipients were transfused with at least 1 unit of blood component at a single university hospital in Korea between January 2006 and December 2009. Their medical records were reviewed, and their demographic and transfusion-related data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-transfusion HBsAg and anti-HBs levels were tested in 77.6% (6,037/7,780) of the recipients. The results varied widely according to recipient age. In all, 32.8% (1,982/6,037) of the recipients who were tested had dual negative pre-transfusion results for HBsAg and anti-HBs and, therefore, were at increased risk of HBV transmission. Post-transfusion follow-up testing for HBsAg and/or anti-HBs was performed in 22% (436/1,982) of the increased-risk group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that current transfusion-related laboratory testing practice is not sufficient to properly investigate possible post-transfusion infections. Routine laboratory tests, including HBsAg and anti-HBs, should be recommended in transfusion guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeongsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Chul Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kyoung Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kunsei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sounghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens