Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc positivity and presence of HBV DNA from anti-HBc positive found donations that are living in the city of Sivas, in Turkey. A total of 987 voluntary blood donors, admitted to blood centre of Cumhuriyet University Hospital Sivas, (Turkey) between February to June 2008 were included in this study. Presence of Anti-HBc was screened in all serum samples. Positive samples for Anti-HBc were tested for the presence of anti-HBs then anti-HBs-positive samples were investigated for HBcIgM, HBeAg and anti-HBe. All of the HBV serological markers were tested in all serum samples using ELISA method. The presence of HBV-DNA was determined quantitatively in serum samples of cases with isolated anti-HBc by real-time PCR. Anti-HBc total was established as positive 209 (21.1%) of the 987 blood donors. The isolated anti-HBc positivity was 15.8% and HBV DNA positivity in the blood donors was 0.1%. In conclusion, the risk of HBV transmission by transfusion in blood centers can reduce by routine screening for anti-HBc in addition to HBsAg screening and then investigating of HBV DNA in anti-HBc positive samples.

Key words: Blood donors, isolated anti-HBc, HBV DNA.