Routine screening of blood donations at Qingdao central blood bank, China, for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA with a real‐time, multiplex nucleic acid test for HBV, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus Types 1 and 2

Abstract

The HBV NAT yield in blood donors in Qingdao is 0.06% (38/65,800). This study confirmed the value of NAT for interdicting HBV-positive donations and preventing transfusion-transmitted HBV infections.

Impact of nucleic acid amplification test on screening of blood donors in Northern Pakistan

“…A Thai Red Cross study conducted in 2010 reported that among 72 HBV NAT–reactive donors investigated, 48 (66.7%) donors had OBI whereas only 15 (20.8%) were in WP phase of infection . Similarly, among the HBV NAT–reactive Chinese blood donors, 55.9% had OBI and only 5.1% were in acute WP of hepatitis B infection . In our study, six (26.1%) of 23 HBV NAT–reactive donors had anti‐HBs–reactive result.…”

“…Five donors with even lower viral load were found reactive, when centrifugation of the samples was done before performing NAT. Low‐grade and fluctuating viremia has been reported in OBI donors in some of the previously published studies . A study in Swiss blood donors has reported low viral loads in nine HBV‐reactive donors; two in WP and seven with OBI had viral loads of less than 10 IU/mL .…”

“…In a study in the Thai blood donors, the investigators were able to follow only 72 (41.1%) HBV NAT–reactive donors of a total of 175, for further HBV seromarker testing . In another study in Chinese blood donors, 26 (44.1%) of a total 59 NAT‐reactive donors provided the follow‐up samples for further testing …”

“…This could be quite complicated, but essential to overcome the problem of false‐positive NAT results, especially for HBV NAT–reactive donors . Follow‐up testing of NAT‐reactive donors has been recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has been performed in some of the previously conducted NAT screening studies in other countries . However, in the absence of follow‐up, samples from the RPB of the donors should be used for confirmation of NAT results.…”

Occult Hepatitis Infection in Transfusion Medicine: Screening Policy and Assessment of Current Use of Anti-HBc Testing

“…It is well-known that anti-HBc testing is not particular useful in areas with high prevalence [78]. The prevalence for antiHBc in blood donors considerably varies in different countries: USA 0.23%, Italy 8.3%, India 7.5%, South Korea 13.5%, Iran 16.4%, Japan 38%, and East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa over 50% [44,[79][80][81][82][83][84].…”