Prevalence of anti-HCV in Norwegian blood donors with anti-HBc or increased ALT levels

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 30; no. 9; p. 776
• Main Authors: Hetland, G, Skaug, K, Larsen, J, Maland, A, Strømme, J H, Størvold, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-1990
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis C - diagnosis; Humans; Norway - epidemiology; Prevalence; Norway
• ISSN: 0041-1132
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1990.30991048780.x

Testing for hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) was performed in 12,104 consecutive blood donors, 139 (1.15%) of whom were found to be positive. The first 6036 donors were also screened for ALT; 91 (1.51%) had repeatedly elevated values. ALT screening was of no help in detecting anti-HBc-positive donors. Those with anti-HBc or repeatedly raised ALT levels were further tested for hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV), and 3 (2.16%) and 1 (1.10%) anti-HCV-positive donors were detected, respectively. This prevalence of anti-HCV (0.5%) is not significantly different from that found in 1000 unselected donors at our blood bank. Testing for ALT and anti-HBc as surrogate markers for hepatitis C is therefore not recommended in Norwegian blood donors and should be replaced by anti-HCV screening.