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Prospective assessment of donor blood screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus by first‐ and second‐generation assays as a means of preventing posttransfusion hepatitis
Author(s) -
Takano S,
Nakamura K,
Kawai S,
Yokosuka O,
Satomura Y,
Omata M
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.510230408
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis c virus , antibody , virology , incidence (geometry) , titer , hepatitis c , hepatitis , virus , immunology , physics , optics
In November 1989, the Japanese Red Cross began screening blood donors for the hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) by first‐generation assay and high‐titer hepatitis B virus core antigen antibody. A significant reduction in the incidence of acute posttransfusion hepatitis was reported; however, the incidence still ranged from 2% to 4%. The Red Cross changed to the second‐generation assay in February 1992, the objective being the complete elimination of potential posttransfusion hepatitis. The aim was to elucidate the advantage of second‐generation assay as a blood‐donor screening test. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis after the introduction of second‐generation assay was compared with that before the introduction of the first‐generation assay and with that during its use. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis was 9.6% (216/2,240) before anti‐HCV‐s donor screening. It was 3.7% (24/655) and 0.9% (3/326) after the introductions of the first‐and second‐generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) assays, respectively (χ 2 = 50.0, P < .01). Blood‐donor screening by second‐generation anti‐HCV provided a significant benefit compared with the first‐generation assay.