Ann Lab Med.  2012 Jan;32(1):73-78. 10.3343/alm.2012.32.1.73.

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

• Kim H
• Hur M
• Moon HW
• Park CM
• Cho JH
• Park KS
• Lee K
• Chang S

• KMID: 1781441
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2012.32.1.73

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.

Keyword

Hepatitis B virus; Transmission; Transfusion; Recipients; Test

MeSH Terms

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

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