Transfusion Related Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies and Possible Risk Factors in Healthy Blood Donors.

Abstract

The main cause of transfusion associated hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is HCV infection. The present research was carried out to investigate the outbreak extent of anti–HCV antibodies among healthy blood donors attending the transfusion department at Khartoum hospitals. 3000 volunteer healthy blood donors participated in a cross–sectional study. Rapid test method was applied and positive samples were approved with the ELISA (fourth generation). SPSS software version 26 was used for statistical analysis of data. 0.5% of the research population was detected to have anti-HCV antibody. Donors (all male) were between 19–46 years old with mean age (1.95± 0.421SD). 2545 (84.8%) were volunteer, 455 (15.1%) were family replacement donors, 11 (0.36%) were positive among volunteer group, and most of the participants (0.16%) who were diagnosed with hepatitis C antibodies had history of cupping. 2265 (75%) of donors had a history of jaundices; only 13 (0.6%) statistically carried antibodies against HCV (P value 0.012). Sudanese blood donors had a low seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus; however, the existence of the virus and the likelihood of transmission and dissemination were confirmed. Hence, very rigorous guidelines are necessary for selecting blood donors. Furthermore, laboratory diagnostic tests for identifying infectious agents must be significantly enhanced