Frequency of hepatitis B virus-DNA among hepatitis B surface-Ag negative, anti-hepatitis B core antibody-positive blood donors in Yazd, Iran

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of hepatitis B infection in most blood transfusion centers is based on hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen detection by an enzyme immunoassay method. This study aimed to determine the frequency of hepatitis B core (HBc) antibody, HBs antibody, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA among HBs antigen-negative healthy blood donors of Yazd province, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1500 healthy blood donor samples negative for HBs antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, human immunodeficiency virus antigen/antibody, and rapid plasma regain tests. All samples were screened for HBc antibody test. HBs antibody and real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed for HBc antibody-positive samples. RESULTS: HBc antibody was positive in 74 (4.9%) samples and 11 (14.9%) of 74 positive samples for HBc antibody were negative for HBs antibody. Sixty-three (85.1%) positive samples for HBc antibody had HBs antibody titer over 10 IU/L, and 43 (58.1%) had HBs antibody titer over 100 IU/L. There was no hepatitis B DNA-positive sample in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that there is a very low risk for transmission of HBV through blood donors of Yazd, Iran.