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P093: Seroprevalence of anti‐HCV antibodies among voluntary blood donors in Fatehabad district of Haryana
Author(s) -
L Sangwan,
P Arun,
A Munjal
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/jvh.88_12425
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , citation , medicine , hepatitis c , antibody , virology , family medicine , library science , immunology , computer science , serology
Hepatitis C is one of the transfusion transmissible infections and continues to be a threat to safe transfusion practices. Evaluating the trend in seroprevalence of anti- HCV antibodies is useful to assist the preventive strategies. This study was aimed to know the seroprevalence of anti- HCV antibodies in voluntary blood donors in Fatehabad District of Haryana. The present retrospective hospital record-based study was conducted at the blood bank of Fatehabad district in Haryana in India over a period 2 years from August 2012 to August 2014. All the blood units collected were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by using third generation ELISA kits (HCV Erbalisa). The number of donors who were found reactive for anti-HCV antibodies was calculated. The data of HCV was analyzed with chi square test. Of the 6055 blood donors, 5752 were males and 303 were females. The percentage of whole blood donors found seroreactive for anti-HCV antibodies was 3.10% (n=188). The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in male blood donors was 2.97 (n=180) and the respective seroprevalence in female blood donors was 0.13 (n=8). A constant increase in seroprevalence of anti- HCV antibodies was observed over the period under consideration. Age wise maximum seroprevalence of anti- HCV antibodies was observed in 21 to 30 years group (1.29 %) and the minimum seroprevalence of anti- HCV antibodies was observed in above 51 yr (0.05%). The majority of donors seropositive for anti- HCV antibodies were younger than 40 years (86 donors were 163 years of age or less, and 25 donors above 40 years). The higher seroprevalence rate of HCV (3.10%) in this study, further recommends strict abiding to donor selection criteria, comprehensive screening of blood donors, better awareness among donors and reintensification of prophylactic programmes at public level to ensure the safe blood donation. Since, no vaccine is presently available for immunization against HCV infection, transfusion transmitted HCV infection remains a potential threat to the safety of the blood supply.