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Should antibody to hepatitis B core antigen be tested in routine screening of donor corneas for transplant?
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-9057, USA.
Purpose:
A review of the literature on transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases shows that antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is not presently viewed as helpful for hepatitis C or hepatitis non-ABC screening of blood donors. Its utility as a screen for hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is controversial among experts.
Methods:
We compare relevant aspects of the screening of blood donations and the screening of cornea transplant donors to assess implications for the screening of donor corneas.
Conclusion:
We conclude that there is not sufficient evidence to warrant introducing anti-HBc as a routine screening test for cornea donors.
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