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Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in blood donors
P Ferroni1, A Tagger, M L Ribero
1Istituto di Virologia, Università di Milano, Italy.
Insights
A new hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test identified a 1.2% prevalence in regular blood donors. Higher HCV prevalence was observed in individuals with elevated ALT and hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis globally.
- Recombinant HCV antigen has enabled the development of serological tests for anti-HCV antibodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in different subgroups of blood donors.
- To assess the correlation between anti-HCV prevalence and markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum anti-HCV antibodies.
- Blood donors (n=639) were classified based on HBV exposure markers (anti-HBcAg) and ALT levels.
- Prevalence rates were compared across different donor subgroups.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in regular blood donors with normal ALT and no HBV markers was 1.2%.
- A significantly higher prevalence (10%) of anti-HCV was found in donors with both elevated ALT and positive HBV markers.
- No significant differences in anti-HCV prevalence were observed among other donor subgroups.
Conclusions:
- The findings highlight the importance of implementing HCV antibody testing in blood supply policies.
- Elevated ALT and HBV markers may indicate a higher risk group for HCV infection among blood donors.
- Further research is warranted to refine screening strategies for HCV in blood donations.
Abstract:
Recently a recombinant polypeptide of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been developed by the Chiron Corporation in California. This antigen has been used to develop an ELISA test (Ortho Diagnostic Systems for serum anti-HCV antibodies. Preliminary data have shown that this virus is the major cause of NANB hepatitis in the world. We examined differences in anti-HCV prevalence among subgroups of blood donors (total sera examined 639) classified for past or present exposure to HBV or not, and for ALT levels. The anti-HCV prevalence found in regular blood donors with normal ALT levels and no antibody to HBcAg was 1.2%. No significant difference in the anti-HCV prevalence was found among other subgroups of blood donors except that a higher prevalence (10%) was found in a group with both elevated ALT and HBV markers. These preliminary findings suggest that the policy of blood supply should take into account the advent of HCV antibody test.