Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among the blood donors in Golestan province: cross-sectional study

Asma Bahrami; Ali Akbar Pourfathollah; Masoud Parsania; Hossein Mehrabi Habibabadi; Zohreh Sharifi

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9793

Asma Bahrami Department of Microbiology, Blood Transfusion Research Centre, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
Ali Akbar Pourfathollah Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Masoud Parsania Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Mehrabi Habibabadi Department of Microbiology, Blood Transfusion Research Centre, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
Zohreh Sharifi Department of Microbiology, Blood Transfusion Research Centre, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i3.9793

Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen; Blood donors; Iran; Hepatitis B infection

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Despite the increased sensitivity of screening tests, the HBV can be transmitted during the window period and occult hepatitis B infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HBV markers and prevalence of OBI among HBsAg negative blood donors in Golestan province.

Materials and Methods: Anti-HBc (IgM and IgG), anti-HBs and anti-HBe tests on 4313 serum samples (HBsAg negative) were performed by ELISA method. Also, all samples for the presence of HBV- DNA were tested by using NAT methods. SPSS software and chi-square test were used for data analysis.

Results: Of the 4313 samples, 384 (8.9%) sera were anti-HBc positive. Also, of 384 anti-HBc positive samples, 302 (78.65%) were anti-HBs positive and 152 (39.6%) were anti-HBe positive. Thirty-nine (0.90%) samples were anti-HBc positive, an- ti-HBs negative and anti-HBe negative. HBV-DNA was not detected in any of specimens.

Conclusion: Based on the results of retesting the isolated anti-HBc samples that after one year recalling, had undetectable HBV-DNA and for the prevention of the decreasing of healthy blood donation (due to false positive anti-HBc) and pres- ervation of the blood supplies; Individual Donor Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) along with the anti-HBc testing for the improving blood safety is recommended.