Prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis B and C viruses in Brazilian blood donors and incidence and residual risk of transfusion transmission of hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Background We evaluate the current prevalence of serological markers for HBV and HCV in blood donors and estimated HCV incidence and residual transfusion-transmitted risk at three large Brazilian blood centers. Material and Methods Data on whole blood and platelet donations were collected from January through December 2007 and analyzed by center, donor type (replacement vs. community), age, sex, donation status (first-time vs. repeat), and serological results for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HCV. HBV (HBsAg+/anti-HBc+) and HCV (anti-HCV) prevalence rates were calculated for all first time donations. HCV incidence was derived including inter-donation intervals that preceded first repeat donations given during the study and HCV residual risk was estimated for transfusions derived from repeat donors. Results There were 307,354 donations from January through December 2007. Overall prevalence of concordant HBsAg and anti-HBc reactivity was 289 per 100,000 donations and of anti-HCV confirmed reactivity 191 per 100,000 donations. There were significant associations between older age and hepatitis markers, especially for HCV. HCV incidence was 3.11 (95% CI 0.77-7.03) per 100,000 person-years, and residual risk of HCV window-phase infections was estimated at 5.0 per million units transfused. Conclusion Improvement in blood donor selection, socioeconomic conditions and preventive measures, implemented over time, may have helped to decrease prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses, relative to previous reports. Incidence and residual risk of HCV are also diminishing. Ongoing monitoring of hepatitis B and C viral markers among Brazilian blood donors should help guide improved recruitment procedures, donor selection, laboratory screening methods and counseling strategies.

Screening for hepatitis C virus infection in a high prevalence country by an antigen/antibody combination assay versus a rapid test

“…These discrepancies are probably due to an overestimation of rates in past studies based only upon screening results or to differences in donor selection strategies. The age association with prevalence of HCV markers is in accordance with recent findings in Brazil (de Almeida-Neto et al, 2013) and may be explained by higher HCV transmission and prevalence in the past compared to the present. This hypothesis of lower current incidence is supported by the low proportion (only 50%) of viremic donors observed among confirmed positive subjects in this study.…”

Changes in the prevalence, incidence and residual risk for HIV and hepatitis C virus in Southern Brazilian blood donors since the implementation of NAT screening

“…The present study showed that the City of Criciúma had the highest HIV and HCV risk among blood donors. An HCV incidence of 3.11 per 100,000 donor-years and an HCV residual risk of 0.5 per 100,000 were reported for the capitals of the federal States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais in 2007, along with a downward trend over time 17 . This fi nding is in line with similar trends among HEMOSC blood donors.…”

Positive serology for viral hepatitis and donor self-exclusion in Southern Brazil

“…Research on blood donors has shown a predominance of male donors, with a prevalence of 63.9-71.3% [32][33][34][35] . With respect to ethnicity, 96.2% of blood donors in the present study were Caucasian, which is consistent with the 2010 census in which 83.9% of the population of the State of Santa Catarina declared themselves as Caucasian 36 .…”