Accuracy of screening for HBV (NAT, HBSAg, anti-HBC) in blood donors from the Brazilian Amazon from 2105 to 2018

Abstract

Background Hepatitis B (HBV) is an infectious disease of worldwide importance and of great interest to transfusion medicine. The Amazon region has areas of high endemicity, outlining a worrying scenario for local transfusion safety, and it is necessary to investigate its impact on public health and blood component stocks. Objective To investigate the accuracy of HBV screening (NAT, HBSAg, anti-HBC) in blood donors from the Hemocentro do Amazonas, Brazil, from 2105 to 2018. Methods Blood donors reactive in serological and molecular screening for HBV were tested for viral load detection using the qPCR method at the reference center for liver diseases in the State of Amazonas to verify the accuracy of the screening established in Brazilian blood centers. Results A total of 230,591 blood donations were analyzed, with detection of 3,932 inaptitudes by serological and molecular tests, of which 3,104 samples were reactive for some marker for HBV (78.94%). Among the results found, no detection of viral load was observed in 100% of donors reactive to HBsAg alone, while 100% of donors with the NAT-/HBsAg+/Anti-HBc + profile had a detectable viral load. Conclusion The positivity for some HBV marker in blood donors was the biggest reason for discarding blood bags in the period; Serological and molecular screening proved to be safe and reliable; The evasion of individuals from continuing the investigation at the referral center can impact the epidemiological control of hepatitis B.