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Anti‐HBc and hepatitis B virus DNA among HBsAg ‐negative blood donors from the main central blood bank units in Eastern Libya
Author(s) -
ElNabi Sobhy Hassab,
ElGarawani Islam,
Ismail Faisal,
Abdelsameea Eman
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
transfusion medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1365-3148
pISSN - 0958-7578
DOI - 10.1111/tme.12711
Subject(s) - hbsag , hepatitis b virus , medicine , virology , hepatitis b , antibody , blood bank , polymerase chain reaction , blood transfusion , immunology , virus , antigen , biology , gene , emergency medicine , biochemistry
Summary Background Post‐transfusion hepatitis B virus (PTHB) infection is still a public health problem in the world. In many developed countries, nucleic acid testing (NAT) for detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)‐DNA has been implemented to enhance blood donation safety. In Libya, however, the testing for HBV infection is limited to the detection of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) only. Objectives To determine the frequency of anti‐Hepatitis B core antibody (HBc) and HBV‐DNA in HBsAg‐negative, anti‐HBc‐positive blood donors in the main Central Blood Bank Units (CBBUs) in eastern Libya. Methods One thousand blood samples were obtained from healthy blood donors at the five main CBBUs in eastern Libya. The samples were screened for HBsAg and anti‐HBc. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to detect HBV‐DNA in all anti‐HBc‐positive samples. Results A total of 94 (9.4%) donors were positive for anti‐HBc. Of the 94 anti‐HBc‐positive samples, 9 samples (9.5%) tested positive for HBV‐DNA by real‐time PCR. Conclusion The rate of anti‐HBc among blood donors in this study (9.4%) was similar to that reported from other regions in the country. In the absence of advanced tests for the detection of HBV infection in blood donors, such as NAT, anti‐HBc should be routinely tested for, at least for first‐time donors.