title: Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Blood Donors in Jiangsu, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2010, only 1 donor blood sample was found to be anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative and HCV RNA positive, as detected by nucleic acid testing. In occult HCV infection (OCI), HCV RNA is found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We investigated the prevalence of OCI among blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 513 samples from 334 eligible and 179 deferred donors, including 55 anti-HCV-positive, 113 alanine aminotransferase (ALT)-elevated, and 11 hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive blood donors. PBMCs were isolated, the 5'-untranslated region of HCV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription nested PCR, and the genotype of the core region was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No HCV RNA was detected among the eligible samples. Among the deferred donors, 15 (27.2%) had detectable HCV RNA in 55 anti-HCV PBMC specimens. HCV RNA was detected in 1 (9.1%) HBsAg-positive and 9 (8%) ALT-elevated samples. The prevalence of OCI in the blood donors was 2.2% (10/458). HCV genotypes were determined in 10 subjects, indicating that 2 (20.0%) were subtype 2a, 7 (70.0%) were 1b, and 1 (10%) was 6a.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that OCI does exist among Chinese blood donors. However, to determine the epidemiology and outcome of this HCV infection, further follow-up with more participants and patients receiving blood components with OCI is needed.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Blood Center, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shaowen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yanchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chengyin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase