Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and Hepatitis B DNA as surrogate markers for HBV infection in blood donors.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) as surrogate markers of HBV infection in blood donors using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and PCR techniques. Study design: This was cross-sectional study, that involved100 plasma samples that were collected from aberrantly healthy donors in donations sessions of Central Blood Bank, Khartoum, during a period of two months. HbsAg tested for by ELISA, while HBV DNA was looked for using nested PCR using the following primers: (HBV genome 1 353-1 377) and (HBV genome 1 702-1 681) Results: 5% of samples which were negative by ELISA were reported positive by PCR. Only 1% of samples were positive by ELISA and negative by PCR (Occult infection). Discussion Some blood donor although look healthy during the screening process for donation, may be in the window period of infection before anti-HbsAg antibody development. Consequently, the use of ELISA as a sole screening test of the donated blood for HbsAg holds the risk of transmitting HBV infection to recipients. HBV infection can hold the risk of progression to chronic active hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Volunteers in the window period can be picked by nested PCR.