Pre- and Post-transfusion Testing for Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen and Antibody in Blood Recipients: A Single-Institution Experience in an Area of High Endemicity.
- Author:
Hyeongsu KIM
1
;
Mina HUR
;
Hee Won MOON
;
Chul Min PARK
;
Jin Hee CHO
;
Kyoung Sik PARK
;
Kunsei LEE
;
Sounghoon CHANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Transmission; Transfusion; Recipients; Test
- MeSH: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; *Blood Transfusion; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Demography; Endemic Diseases; Female; Hepatitis B/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*transmission; Hepatitis B Antibodies/*blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk
- From:Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2012;32(1):73-78
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B remains the most common transfusion-transmitted viral infection. We explored the current status of pre-transfusion screening and post-transfusion follow-up testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies (anti-HBs) in blood recipients from an area of high HBV endemicity. METHODS: A total of 7,780 blood recipients were transfused with at least 1 unit of blood component at a single university hospital in Korea between January 2006 and December 2009. Their medical records were reviewed, and their demographic and transfusion-related data were analyzed. RESULTS: Pre-transfusion HBsAg and anti-HBs levels were tested in 77.6% (6,037/7,780) of the recipients. The results varied widely according to recipient age. In all, 32.8% (1,982/6,037) of the recipients who were tested had dual negative pre-transfusion results for HBsAg and anti-HBs and, therefore, were at increased risk of HBV transmission. Post-transfusion follow-up testing for HBsAg and/or anti-HBs was performed in 22% (436/1,982) of the increased-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that current transfusion-related laboratory testing practice is not sufficient to properly investigate possible post-transfusion infections. Routine laboratory tests, including HBsAg and anti-HBs, should be recommended in transfusion guidelines.
