Anti-HB Core Screening Significance among Healthy Blood Donors in Fayoum, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Occult Hepatitis B is the existence of HBV-DNA in the serum of HBsAg negative cases with or without the presence of antibodies to HBV. Although (HBV)transmission viahepatitisB surface antigen (HBsAg) negative blood donors has beenreported, still HBsAg is the only obligatory HBV screening test of blood donors in Fayoum. Aim: Expanding the donor screening procedure to include anti-HBc to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted HBV infection. Methods: A total of 400 HBsAg negative blood donors were included in the study from blood bank, Fayoum University Hospital, Egypt. All donors were tested for anti-HBc, and HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive sera were further tested quantitatively for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). ‘Anti-HBc alone’ sera were examined quantitatively for HBV by real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, liver function tests and some oxidative stress parameters were determined in the sera of Anti HBc –ve group and Anti HBc +ve groups. Results: Among 400 HBsAg -negative donors, 69 (17.2%) were anti-HBc -positive, of which 12 donors (17%) were HBsAb negative, 20 donors (29%) were HBsAb low positive and 37 donors (54%) were HBsAb high positive. The 12 ‘anti-HBc alone’ donors displayed 2 cases (16.6%=0.5% of total) with HBV positive DNA. On comparison of the mean liver function profiles of Anti HBc ‒ve group and Anti HBc +ve group, no statistically significant difference was observed. Conclusion: These data suggest including anti-HBc as an additional screening test for blood donors in Fayoum.