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The effect of prior transfusion history on blood donor anti-hepatitis C virus antibody
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody detection in Japanese blood donors revealed higher positive rates with newer testing methods. Early transfusions correlated with higher antibody levels, highlighting the importance of advanced screening for blood safety.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Transfusion Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Non-A, non-B hepatitis, now known as Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, is a significant transfusion-associated disease in Japan.
- National blood policy shifted from paid to voluntary non-paid donations approximately 25 years ago.
- Understanding transfusion history and donor antibody prevalence is crucial for blood safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between transfusion history and the presence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in Japanese blood donors.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different generations of HCV antibody testing kits.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of blood donor antibodies against HCV nonstructural protein (c100-3) and core antigen.
- Comparison of antibody detection rates based on age and time since transfusion.
- Utilizing a second-generation HCV test kit with enhanced antibody detection capabilities.
Main Results:
- The positive rate of anti-c100-3 antibodies was influenced by donor age and the time elapsed since transfusion, with higher rates observed for transfusions over 20 years ago.
- A second-generation HCV test kit, detecting both anti-c100-3 and anti-HCV core antibodies, yielded a higher positive rate compared to the first-generation test.
- The shift to voluntary blood donation preceded the period of highest anti-c100-3 positivity.
Conclusions:
- Advanced HCV testing, such as second-generation kits, offers improved screening sensitivity for blood programs.
- Transfusion history remains a relevant factor in assessing HCV exposure risk among blood donors.
- Enhanced antibody detection is critical for ensuring a safe blood supply and preventing transfusion-transmitted HCV infections.
Abstract:
In Japan, the major transfusion-associated disease is non-A, non-B hepatitis. We studied the relationship between transfusion history and blood donor antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The positive rate of antibodies to the HCV nonstructural protein (c100-3) depended on age and the time elapsed since transfusion. The anti-c100-3 ratio for subjects with transfusions made prior to 20 years ago was high. One quarter century ago, a change occurred in national blood policy from paid to non-paid voluntary donations. We also have studied the anti-HCV positive rate among donors with prior transfusion using a second generation HCV test kit which includes anti-HCV core antibody detection. The anti-HCV positive rate for the second generation test was higher than that for the anti-c100-3 test. Introduction of the second generation test is therefore more useful in screening than the anti-c100-3 test for blood programs.