Prospective analyses of the prevalance of HBsAg in blood donors over a 5 year period.

(transfusion today - 1996, 29: 12-14)

Abstract: A new hepatitis causative agent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been identified by epidemiological laboratory and animal studies. Formerly it was named non-A-non-B virus and thus. This terminology was used in the literature. Hepatitis C virus can be transmitted parenterally and its transmission constitutes 90% of post-transfusion hepatitis. In order to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C seropositivity in the population the anti-HCV antibodies of donors in the blood bank were examined: type of blood danation. Age groups, sexes, educational level and publie status was determined prospectively and their relation to seropositivity was evaluated. The seropositive sera were confirmed with recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods and compared.