Introduction Kazakhstan is being considered medium‐endemic for Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). HBV remains transmissible by direct exposure to infected blood or organic fluids. This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti‐HBcore and the risk factors impacting positive anti‐HBcore markers among donors at Scientific‐Production Center of Transfusiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Materials and Methods The samples taken from blood donors were tested for anti‐HBcore, by the chemiluminescence immunoassay method on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). In case of positive anti‐HBcore, the blood samples were further tested for anti‐HBs on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) indicators were tested by kinetic method on the Biosystems A25 analyzer. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.1, 2021). Results Five thousand seven hundred and nine people aged 18–66 years included in the study, the proportion of men and women was 68.17% and 31.83%, respectively. The average age of the participants was 35.7 ± 10.57 years. The prevalence of anti‐HBcore among donors was 17.2% (983). Among participants with elevated ALT (170), this marker was determined in 23%, and for donors with normal levels of ALT (5539)−17%. Participants with positive anti‐HBcore scores were on average older (41.8 vs. 34.4 years, p < .001) and Kazakhs (88.7% vs. 83.0%, p < .001) by nationality than study participants with negative results of anti‐HBcore. Conclusions Anti‐HBcore prevalence in Kazakhstan (17.2%) compared with other countries (Croatia 7%, France 7%, Germany 9%, Iran 16%, Malaysia 20%, respectively) remains above average. Given the prevalence of HBV and risk factors, it is recommended to include an additional anti‐HBcore marker in the mandatory screening of donated blood in the Kazakhstan Republic and improve preventive measures to prevent HBV transmission by blood transfusions.

Introduction. Kazakhstan is being considered as one of the countries that is medium-endemic for HBV infection. HBV remains the infection transmissible by direct exposure to infected blood or organic fluids. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HBcore and the risk factors impacting positive anti-HBcore markers among donors at Scientific and Production Center of Transfusiology, the Ministry of the Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Materials and Methods. The samples taken from blood donors were tested for anti-HBcore, by CLIA on the Architect i2000SR (ABBOTT). In case of positive anti-HBcore, the blood samples were further tested for anti-HBs by CLIA on the Architect i2000SR (ABBOTT. ALT indicators were tested by kinetic method on the Biosystems A25. Statistical analysis was conducted by the R software (version 4.1.1, USA, 2021). Results. 5709 people aged 18 to 66 years included in the study, the proportion of men and women was 68.17% and 31.83%, respectively. The average age of the participants was 35.7. The prevalence of anti-HBcore among donors was 17.2% (983). Among participants with elevated ALT (170), this marker was determined in 23%, and in donors with normal levels of ALT (5539) - 17%. Participants with positive anti-HBcore scores were on average older (41.8 vs 34.4 years, p<0.001) and Kazakh (88.7% vs 83.0%, p<0.001) by nationality than study participants with negative results anti-HBcore respectively. Conclusions. Anti-HBcore prevalence in Kazakhstan (17.2%) compared to other countries (Croatia 7%, France 7%, Germany 9%, Iran 16%, Malaysia 20% respectively) remains above average (8% and more). Given the prevalence of HBV and risk factors, it is recommended to include an additional anti-HBcore marker in the mandatory screening of donated blood in the country and improve preventive measures to prevent HBV transmission by blood transfusions.