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Hepatitis B vaccinees may be mistaken for confirmed hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive blood donors
Author(s) -
Dow B. C.,
Yates P.,
Galea G.,
Munro H.,
Buchanan I.,
Ferguson K.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1046/j.0042-9007.2001.00125.x
Subject(s) - hbsag , medicine , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , vaccination , immunology , hepatitis b vaccine , virology , population , blood donor , hepatitis , antigen , virus , environmental health
Background and Objectives Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test sensitivities have gradually increased, and neutralizable weak HBsAg‐positive donations, with no other hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, have occasionally been found in our donor population. On investigation, these donors have admitted to receiving hepatitis B vaccine up to 5 days previously. A study was therefore initiated to monitor HBsAg reactivity amongst volunteers after receiving their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine. Materials and Methods Eight volunteers were tested using three HBsAg assays (Abbott Auszyme, Ortho HBsAg‐3 and Abbott/Murex GE34/36) on days 0, 3, 5, 7 and 10 after administration of hepatitis B vaccine. Results Two HBsAg tests (Abbott Auszyme and Ortho HBsAg‐3) did not detect HBsAg reactivity amongst the volunteers, although the Abbott Auszyme test results reached 70–80% of the manufacturer’s cut‐off at day 3 in two volunteers. The most recently launched assay (Abbott/Murex GE 34/36) detected seven (87%) of the eight volunteers as HBsAg reactive on day 3, and two (25%) volunteers were still reactive on day 5. Conclusion The Abbott/Murex GE 34/36 assay demonstrated HBsAg reactivity in most volunteers on day 3 and in some on day 5 after vaccination. It is therefore recommended that individuals who have recently been vaccinated with hepatitis B be deferred from blood donation for at least 7 days.