The rate of HBsAg carriers among blood donors at at Thua Thien Hue province during 5 years (1997 - 2001) is relative high, with 13.57% on average. At the same time, the incidence of HCV infection is lower than other areas (with mean 0.64%). The rate of HBsAg carrier is higher in rural than in Hue city (14.72% vs. 12.27%). The young adults in precincts have higher HBsAg incidence than in other groups.
Blood Donors ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis C Antibodies

A newly developed third generation enzyme immunoassay(Lucky HCD 3.0 EIA) for hepatitis C virus(HCV) antibodies was added with the envelope(E1E2)/NS4 fusion proteins and expanded NS5 proteins as well as the core/NS3 fusion proteins. Authors evaluated the HCD 3.0 EIA with the previously available second generation EIA(HCD 2.0) in 10,435 Red Cross blood donors. Among 10,435 donors who were screened for the presence of HCV antibodies by HCD 2.0 assay, 22(0.21%) sera were repeatedly reactive. All of these sera were tested for further testing. Only 13 of all tested sera were reactive by HCD 3.0 EIA, and nine sera were not reactive. Nine of 13 HCD 3.0 positive sera were reactive by recombinant immunoblot assay(Lucky-Confirm). Also seven of these 13 sera had detectable HCV genomic RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). None of nine HCD 3.0 negative samples had detectable immunoblot assay and HCV genomic RNA. It is concluded that the new HCV EIA can decrease a significant false positivity of second generation EIA in a blood donor population. This new assay correlates well with detection of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR and identifies donors who are truly infected.
Antibodies ; Blood Donors* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Humans ; Immunoblotting* ; Red Cross ; RNA ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) through transfusion has been rare; however, recently there has been a case reported in Korea along with a recent increase in the number of HAV infections. In order to provide baseline information regarding sero-positivity of HAV in healthcare workers (HCWs), we tested for the presence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies in hospital employees who were under 40 years old. Data of HCWs as blood donors was analyzed to help management of blood donors. METHODS: Between July and August 2009, we measured anti-HAV IgG antibodies in HCWs who were in their twenties to thirties, using Architect i2000 (Abbott, Chicago, USA). Sero-positivity was obtained according to age and gender. RESULTS: A total of 1824 HCWs participated in this study, and sero-positivity was significantly different by age; 1.8% (5/275) in the 20~24 year old range, 6.7% (44/661) in the 25~29 year old range, 29.7% (159/536) in the 30~34 year old range, and 57.1% (201/352) in the 35~39 year old range. However, there was no significant difference according to gender. CONCLUSION: Sero-positivity of the anti-HAV IgG antibody was low in HCWs under 30 years old. Therefore, vaccination against HAV in this population should be fortified with respect to blood donor management. Moreover, an improved system of recording history with respect to early symptoms of HAV infection as well as vaccination history may be helpful in preventing the transmission of HAV through transfusion.
Antibodies ; Blood Donors ; Chicago ; Delivery of Health Care ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis A virus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea ; Vaccination

No abstract available.
Hepatitis A/prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/*immunology ; Humans ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

No abstract available.
Hepatitis A/prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/*immunology ; Humans ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo detect humoral immune response against different function regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic patients, and further to investigate the correlativity between anti-HCV antibody titers and HCV RNA concentration.

METHODSUsing recombinant dominate epitope antigens, e.g. HCV Core, NS3, NS4, NS5 and chimeric HVR1, a set of ELISA test reagents was formulated. Then, titers of antibodies against HCV different regions and the RNA concentration of HCV in chronic patient sera were detected by ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR technique, respectively.

RESULTSGreat differences have been noted in antibody titers and positive rate of different HCV function regions in chronic patients. Antibodies against HCV Core and HVR1 have the highest positive rate, then NS3, NS4, and NS5 in sequence.

CONCLUSIONThe titer of antibodies against different regions of HCV in chronic patients has good correlation with HCV RNA concentration.

Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood

No abstract available.
Hepatitis C/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis C Antibodies/*blood ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; RNA, Viral/*blood ; Viremia/*diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate safety and immunogenicity of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in HBsAg carriers and healthy children.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-one healthy children and ten HBsAg carriers, aged 1-10 years HAV susceptible were enrolled in the study. The inactivated hepatitis A vaccine was produced by Tangshan Biogenetic Company. The dosage of the vaccine was 1000 U/Dosage and 500 U/Dosage. The vaccination schedule was six month apart for two injections. The serum anti-HAV level was detected with EIA at one month after first injection and at one and six month after the booster injection, respectively.

RESULTSThe anti-HAV appeared in all the children. One month after the booster injection, the serum anti-HAV level in children vaccinated 500 U/Dosage was 4684.9 mIU and 4535.6 mIU, respectively and in the children vaccinated 1000 U/Dosage, 5399.8 mIU and 7347.1 mIU, respectively. The anti-HAV level was not statistically different between the two groups of children. There was no adverse reaction after the vaccination. The anti-HAV level was still high one year after first injection.

CONCLUSIONSThe data indicated that the safety and immunogenicity of the domestic inactivated hepatitis A vaccine were excellent in both groups of children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Immunization ; Infant ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; immunology

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the properties of HBsAb in occult hepatitis B virus infection and its affinity to different serotypes of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg).

METHODSLong-term follow-up was conducted in 2 HBsAb positive patients with occult hepatitis B virus infection. HBsAg was detected using multiple diagnostic kits and the HBsAb subtype was determined by performing neutralization experiments with different serotypes of HBsAg. The viral S gene was PCR-amplified and mutation analysis was conducted. Plasmids expressing HBsAgs were constructed by inserting these PCR products into an eukaryotic expression vector and were then transfected into HepG2 cells. The cell culture supernatant and cellular extracts were detected for HBsAg respectively. Neutralization experiments were carried out in the cell culture supernatant from HBsAg plasmids transfected HepG2 cells and serum samples from these patients and others who had been confirmed to be positive for HBsAb.

RESULTSMultiple tests using various diagnostic kits showed that the 2 patients were negative for HBsAg and the three different serotypes of HBsAg (adr, adw, ay) could neutralize 82.1%-100% of HBsAb existed in the 2 patients. Sequence analysis of S gene cloned from these patients revealed that the homology to reference strain were 95.13%-97.79% and 92.04%-95.58% respectively at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Quantitation of HBsAg showed that the expression levels of HBsAg from the two patients were 41.1% and 22.6% respectively of that of control HBsAg in cell culture supernatant and 48.1% and 59.3% respectively in cellular extract, and the supernatant/cell lysate ratios were 0.85 and 0.38 respectively. In neutralization experiments, HBsAg could be totally absorbed by control serum, whereas could only be partially neutralized by HBsAbs from the two patients (F = 353.6 and 645.2, P is less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth the antigenicity and the ability of HBsAg secreted outside of the cells are decreased in these HBsAb-positive patients with occult HBV infection. The HBsAbs are mainly specific for common epitopes among different serotypes of HBsAg and are probably different as compared with those produced by vaccine inoculation.

Adult ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serologic Tests