In:
ISBT Science Series, Wiley, Vol. 14, No. 4 ( 2019-11), p. 387-394
Abstract:
Though seropositivity for anti‐ HB c is high in India, neither anti‐ HB c nor single‐unit NAT ( ID ‐ NAT ) is mandatory. Approximately 10% of blood transfusion services in India employ anti‐ HB c (Total) testing, and approximately 50% of these also do NAT testing routinely. Adding anti‐ HB c test to transfusion‐transmissible disease testing for screening donated blood remains controversial, especially after introduction of ID ‐ NAT testing in several centres. Materials and methods Prospective study was undertaken where anti‐ HB c positive, HB sAg negative and ID ‐ NAT negative donor samples were investigated for HB eAg, anti‐ HB e and anti‐ HB s. Isolated anti‐ HB c (anti‐ HB c positive, HB eAg negative, anti‐ HB e negative and anti‐ HB s negative) samples were analysed by a sensitive polymerase chain reaction ( RT ‐ PCR ). Results 955/14296 (7·6%) samples were anti‐ HB c repeat reactive. While none of these were reactive for HB eAg, 696 samples were in possible convalescent phase (anti‐ HB e positive) or resolution phase (anti‐ HB s positive). A total of 259 were isolated anti‐ HB c positive, and there were two low copy numbers (20 and 17 IU /ml) RT ‐ PCR positive amongst these. This finding is in agreement with several other studies with HBV DNA positivity in isolated anti‐ HB c cases (0–0·91%). Conclusion About 0·77% DNA positivity (2/259 isolated anti‐ HB c positive) by alternate PCR missed by ID ‐ NAT underlies the fact that anti‐ HB c (Total) testing continues to be relevant in context of enhancing blood safety, especially in medium endemicity region like India. It is also possible to adopt screening algorithm of Japan Red Cross where units are considered transfusable if the anti‐ HB s titre is over 100 mIU /ml, and we could have used 35·3% of repeat reactive anti‐ HB c units using this approach.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1751-2816
,
1751-2824
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2019
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2250639-1
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