Molecular surveillance of HIV, HBV, and HCV amongst blood donors in five Chinese regions

Abstract

15Hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are 16 transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) agents that threaten the safety of the blood 17 supply. Surveillance of the variance of those viruses is an important way to monitor their 18 diversity and evolution to improve safety in blood transfusion. In this study, we 19 characterized the specimens of blood donors from 13 blood centers located in 5 Chinese 20 regions. 21 determine whether the distributions of variants are changing over time and 47 geographically, and to speculate whether previously rare subtypes are becoming 48 established in blood donors in China. 49