Surveillance for posttransfusion hepatitis by a community hospital. Another view

A critical appraisal of a recent AABB recommendation for hepatitis surveillance was undertaken. As part of the program, a formal, mailed inquiry was sent to physicians whose patients were transfused six months earlier. The replies did not provide an effective means of detecting posttransfusion hepatitis, and cost of the program was high. Although the method served as a useful reminder to physicians that transfusion-associated hepatitis is a reportable disease, caution is warranted in implementing such screening.