International review of blood donation screening for anti-HBc and occult hepatitis B virus infection

  • Michael X. Fu
  • , Helen M. Faddy
  • , Daniel Candotti
  • , Jamel Groves
  • , Paula Saa
  • , Claire Styles
  • , Opeyemi Adesina
  • , Jose Perez Carrillo
  • , Axel Seltsam
  • , Marijke Weber-Schehl
  • , Sheila F. O'Brien
  • , Steven J. Drews
  • , Nana Benyin Aidoo
  • , Ángel Luis Pajares
  • , Laura Navarro Perez
  • , Xuelian Deng
  • , Thijs van de Laar
  • , Syria Laperche
  • , Riikka Lehtisalo
  • , Soner Yilmaz
  • Wai Chiu Tsoi, David Juhl, Christoph Niederhauser, Nahid Chenarsabz, Niamh O'Flaherty, Naoko Goto, Masahiro Satake, Christian Renaud, Antoine Lewin, Marc Cloutier, Salam Sawadogo, Claire Reynolds, Eugene Zhiburt, An Muylaert, Véronique Van Gaever, Michel Andres Garcia-Otalora, Lisa Jarvis, Marion Vermeulen, Michael Busch, Stuart Blackmore, Ann Jones, Su Brailsford, William L. Irving, Monique Andersson, Peter Simmonds, Heli Harvala

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) screening has been implemented in many blood establishments to help prevent transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), including from donors with occult HBV infection (OBI). We review HBV screening algorithms across blood establishments globally and their potential effectiveness in reducing transmission risk. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire on HBV screening and follow-up strategies was distributed to members of the International Society of Blood Transfusion working party on transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases. Screening data from 2022 were assimilated and analyzed. Results: A total of 30 unique responses were received from 25 countries. Sixteen respondents screened all donations for anti-HBc, with 14 also screening all donations for HBV DNA. Anti-HBc prevalence was 0.42% in all blood donors and 1.19% in new donors in low-endemic countries; however, only 44% of respondents performed additional anti-HBc testing to exclude false reactivity. 0.68% of anti-HBc positive, HBsAg-negative donors had detectable HBV DNA. Ten respondents did universal HBV DNA screening without anti-HBc, whereas four respondents did not screen for either. Deferral strategies for anti-HBc positive donors were highly variable. One transfusion-transmission from an anti-HBc negative donor was reported. Discussion: Anti-HBc screening identifies donors with OBI but also results in the unnecessary deferral of a significant number of donors with resolved HBV infection and donors with false-reactive anti-HBc results. Whilst confirmation of anti-HBc results could be improved to reduce donor deferral, transmission risks associated with anti-HBc negative OBI donors must be considered. In high-endemic areas, highly sensitive HBV DNA testing is required to identify infectious donors.

Translated title of the contributionRevisión internacional del cribado de donaciones de sangre para la detección de anti-HBc y de la infección oculta por el virus de la hepatitis B
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2144-2156
Number of pages13
JournalTransfusion
Volume64
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Hematology

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