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Published on: March 13, 2015
Prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Scottish blood donors
R J Crawford1, J Gillon, P L Yap
1Glasgow and West of Scotland Blood Transfusion Service, Law Hospital, Carluke, Edinburgh.
Insights
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Scottish blood donors is low at 0.088%. However, risk factors like intravenous drug use were common among infected donors, highlighting ongoing screening challenges.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Routine screening for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies was implemented for all blood donations in Scotland.
- This study focused on the initial six months of this routine screening program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of HCV infection in Scottish blood donors.
- To correlate epidemiological risk factors and liver function (ALT levels) with virological findings in infected donors.
Main Methods:
- Contacting and counseling blood donors identified as HCV positive.
- Collecting demographic data, history of risk exposure, and blood samples for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level.
- Correlating epidemiological, virological, and ALT data.
Main Results:
- A total of 180,658 donations were tested, with an HCV prevalence of 0.088%.
- Among 151 attendees for counseling, intravenous drug use was the most frequent risk factor (39%).
- Elevated ALT levels were observed in 59% of infected donors, with higher levels associated with HCV types 1 and 3.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of HCV in Scottish blood donors is relatively low, potentially due to donor selection procedures.
- Despite screening, individuals with risk factors continue to donate blood.
- Combining ALT levels and PCR testing is valuable for counseling and assessing infected donors.
Abstract:
All blood donors in Scotland who were found to be infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the first 6 months of routine testing of all donations for anti-HCV were contacted. Those who attended were counselled, a history of exposure to risk was sought, and blood was taken for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level as a measure of liver function. The epidemiological features were then correlated with the virological findings and ALT. In the period under study between September 1991 and February 1992, 180,658 blood donors attended. The prevalence of HCV infection was 0.088%. Of the 151 donors who attended for counselling, 101 (68%) were male. Intravenous drug use was the most common risk activity (39%), followed by previous blood transfusion (15.2%), other parenteral exposure (11.2%) and heterosexual contact with a parenterally infected partner (8.6%); 29.1% of donors gave no history of possible exposure. Elevated ALT levels were found in 59%. ALT levels were higher in donors with HCV types 1 and 3 than in HCV type 2 or non-viraemic donors. The prevalence of HCV in Scottish blood donors is thus relatively low. This may relate to the effectiveness of donor selection procedures, but donors with risk activities which should debar them continue to donate. The combination of ALT and PCR appears to be useful in counselling and assessing infected donors.
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