Risk of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C virus in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

To evaluate the risk of probable iatrogenic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following transfusion of donor blood that has not been screened for HCV.

Prospective study.

Screening for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus is routine in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. HCV screening was performed on transfused bags of donor blood selected at random. The detection of anti-HCV was based on the principle of double antigen sandwich immunoassay, in which purified recombinant antigens are employed sufficiently to identify anti-HCV. The outcomes of interest included the proportion of HCV-positive units of transfused donor blood, the source of blood and the total number of units of blood processed in the hospital blood bank.

A total of 4532 units of donor blood were procured in the blood bank. Of these, 4132 units were certified as fit for transfusion following the hospital protocols. The sources of the transfused blood samples were commercial blood donors [89.2% (n = 3687)] and targeted donation [10.8% (n = 445)]. One hundred and ninety-two transfused blood samples were randomly screened for HCV, and 3% (n = 6) were found to be positive (95% confidence intervals 0.007-0.06). The likely risk of iatrogenic transfusion-related HCV infection was estimated to be 129 cases/year at the present rate of utilization of donor blood at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

There is a risk of iatrogenic transfusion-transmitted HCV in the study hospital. Hospitals in Nigeria should screen for HCV prior to allogeneic transfusion, which may help in avoiding transfusion-related HCV and its probable long-term effects.