Characteristics and Follow-up Results of the Window Period Blood Donors for Hepatitis C Virus.
- Author:
Jae Won KANG
1
;
Jae Sook LEE
;
Dong Hee SEO
;
Kwang HUH
;
Jai Ho WEE
;
Quehn PARK
Author Information
1. Central Blood Test Laboratory, The Republic of Korean Red Cross, Seoul, Korea. kangjaewon@redcross.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
NAT;
HCV;
Follow-up test
- MeSH:
Blood Donors*;
Follow-Up Studies*;
Hepacivirus*;
Hepatitis C*;
Hepatitis*;
HIV-1;
Humans;
Korea;
Mass Screening;
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques;
Red Cross;
RNA;
Serologic Tests;
Tissue Donors
- From:Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
2007;18(1):15-22
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To improve the safety of the blood supply in Korea, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) for HCV and HIV-1 as a blood screening test has been used by the Korean Red Cross since February 1st, 2005. Until October 31st 2006, a total of 4,037,618 donor samples had been tested and 436 cases showed reactivity for HCV RNA. Only 10 of these cases showed serologically negative antibody results. METHODS: We investigated the characteristics and the follow-up results of the ten donors who showed HCV RNA reactivity and serologically negative results. RESULTS: All the ten donors were identified to be "window period" blood donors with confirmation of their seroconversion by follow-up testing. The average RNA titer of the donors was 9.21x106 IU/mL. Five donors showed high levels of ALT. One donor showed the reversed pattern on the test results for antibody and RNA. CONCLUSION: By detecting five cases of HCV "window period" infection, NAT has increased the safety of the Korean blood supply. But it is considered that NAT can not be a substitute serological test and an adequate follow-up strategy is required for verification of the accurate seroconversion time.
