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Screening for circulating immune complexes in blood donors as an effective method of further HBsAg carriers detection
Insights
Screening blood donors for circulating immune complexes (CIC) can aid in detecting Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). CIC presence in donors indicates a higher likelihood of HBsAg positivity than traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) detection is crucial for blood safety.
- Circulating immune complexes (CIC) can interfere with standard HBsAg testing methods like counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP).
- Previous observations noted a loss of CIEP HBsAg reactivity due to CIC formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of CIC screening in blood donors.
- To determine if CIC screening can serve as an aid in detecting HBsAg.
- To assess the correlation between CIC presence and HBsAg positivity in blood donors.
Main Methods:
- A simple screening modification of the Pegikem test was used to examine CIC.
- 2,150 normal blood donors were screened for CIC.
- HBsAg was subsequently confirmed using a third-generation test in CIC-positive individuals.
Main Results:
- 21 out of 2,150 blood donors (0.98%) were identified as CIC carriers.
- HBsAg was confirmed in 13 (61.90%) of the CIC carriers.
- CIC presence identified twice as many HBsAg carriers compared to CIEP.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a significant source of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the general population.
- CIC presence appears to be a reliable indicator for HBsAg.
- Blood donors identified as CIC carriers should undergo sensitive HBsAg testing before acceptance.
Abstract:
The loss of counterimmunoelectrophoretic (CIEP) HBsAg reactivity resulting from circulating immune complexes (CIC) formation, observed earlier, prompted us to evaluation the CIC screening in blood donors as an aid in HBsAg detecting. CIC were examined by means of a simple screening modification of the Pegikem test. Among 2.150 normal blood donors there were 21 (0.98%) CIC carriers found, in 13 (61.90%) of them HBsAg was then proved by means of a third generation test. In this population, CIC presence indicated twice as many HBsAg carriers as the CIEP. HBsAg is evidently a very important source of CIC in normal population. The CIC presence is supposed to be a good indicator of HBsAg as well. Therefore, before being accepted as blood donors, CIC carriers should be tested by sensitive test for HBsAg presence.