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A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
Trends in new hepatitis C virus infections among repeat blood donors - Georgia, 2017-2023
Shaun Shadaker1, Davit Baliashvili2, Maia Alkhazashvili3
1Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, United States.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence declined in Georgia blood donors, but remains high in young adults and incarcerated individuals. Targeted prevention and screening are crucial for these at-risk groups.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Blood donor cohorts offer valuable insights for infectious disease surveillance.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant public health challenge.
- Understanding HCV incidence in repeat blood donors is critical for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among repeat blood donors in Georgia.
- To identify demographic and location-specific risk factors for HCV seroconversion and infection.
- To inform public health programming and interventions for HCV prevention.
Main Methods:
- Utilized national hepatitis C screening registry data from 2017-2023.
- Calculated HCV incidence and seroconversion rates per 100,000 person-years (PY).
- Analyzed data by year, sex, age group, and location of last HCV screening for 101,443 repeat blood donors.
Main Results:
- Overall HCV seroconversion incidence decreased from 408 to 218 per 100,000 PY (2017-2022).
- HCV infection incidence decreased from 172 to 118 per 100,000 PY (2017-2022).
- Highest incidence rates were observed in males, young adults (18-39 years), and individuals last tested in prisons.
Conclusions:
- HCV incidence in repeat blood donors, while declining, remains elevated in specific subgroups.
- Incarcerated populations and young adults in Georgia require focused HCV prevention, screening, and treatment efforts.
- Blood donor surveillance is an effective tool for monitoring and managing infectious diseases like HCV.
Background And Objectives:
Blood donor cohorts are an underappreciated resource for surveillance and public health programming for infectious diseases. The incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was evaluated in repeat blood donors in Georgia.
Materials And Methods:
Using data from the national hepatitis C screening registry, we calculated overall hepatitis C incidence for 2017-2023 and annual incidence during 2017-2022 among adults who donated blood at least twice and had a nonreactive HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test result upon first screening and a subsequent anti-HCV test conducted in any location. Rates of anti-HCV seroconversion and current infection were calculated by year, sex, age group, and location of last HCV screening and expressed per 100,000 person-years (PY).
Results:
Of 101,443 blood donors with ≥ 2 anti-HCV results,775 (0.8%) seroconverted to anti-HCV reactive, of whom 403 (52.0%) had current infection. Incidence of anti-HCV seroconversion decreased from 408 per 100,000 PY in 2017 to 218 per 100,000 PY in 2022 and incidence of infection decreased from 172 per 100,000 PY in 2017 to 118 per 100,000 PY in 2022. Males, persons aged 18-39 years, and people last tested for HCV in prisons had the highest incidence rates for anti-HCV seroconversion and HCV infection, while persons last screened in blood banks and during antenatal care had the lowest.
Conclusion:
Despite the observed decline, incidence of HCV infection among repeat blood donors remains high in specific subgroups. Hepatitis C prevention, screening and treatment interventions need to particularly focus on incarcerated populations and young adults in Georgia.
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