Indication of Anti-HBc Antibody Screening and HBV-DNA Detection in Diagnosing Latent Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Authors

  • A. Behzad-Behbahani
  • A. Mafi-Nejad
  • A. Torab
  • A.R. Salah
  • B. Pourabbas
  • K.B. Lankarani
  • M. Rashidi
  • M. Rasouli
  • S.Z. Tabei
Abstract:

Background: In spite of available, and sensitive screening assay for detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), occasional cases of post-transfusion hepatitis B virus infection are still observed. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of positive anti hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) and presence of HBV-DNA in serum sample of healthy blood donors negative for both HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody. We evaluated whether anti-HBc could be adopted as a screening assay for blood donation. Material and Methods: Two thousands sera negative for both HBsAg and anti-HCV collected from healthy blood donors tested for presence of anti-HBc antibody. All sera positive for anti-HBc antibody were then investigated for determination of anti-HBc and anti-HBs titers, HbeAg and anti-HBe antibody by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Every sample that tested negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBc alone or in combination with other serological markers was also examined for the presence of HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Out of 2000 HBsAg negative blood samples, 131 samples (6.55%) were positive for anti-HBc. HBV-DNA was detected in 16 of 131(12.2%) anti-HBc positive specimens. The liver function test results were all in normal range except in 4 (25%) of 16 HBV-DNA positive subjects. Conclusion: Anti-HBc antibody should be tested routinely on blood donor volunteers, and if the sera become positive regardless of anti-HBs titer, the blood should be discarded. Further testing for HBV-DNA is appropriate to follow up the blood donor patient for HBV infection.Iran J Med Sci 2005; 30(1): 28-33. Keywords ● hepatitis B virus infection ● blood donors ● Iran ● anti-HBc ● HBV-DNA

Upgrade to premium to download articles

Sign up to access the full text

Already have an account?login

similar resources

indication of anti-hbc antibody screening and hbv-dna detection in diagnosing latent hepatitis b virus infection

background: in spite of available, and sensitive screening assay for detection of hepatitis b virus surface antigen (hbsag), occasional cases of post-transfusion hepatitis b virus infection are still observed. the aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of positive anti hepatitis b core (anti-hbc) and presence of hbv-dna in serum sample of healthy blood donors negative for both hb...

full text

Anti-HBc and HBV-DNA detection in blood donors negative for hepatitis B virus surface antigen

Occult HBV infection is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in blood or liver tissues in patients negative for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg). Those patients may or may not be positive for HBV antibodies. The objective of this study is to determine the presence or absence of HBV DNA in the serum samples from HBsAg negative blood donors. In addition we aimed to assess the...

full text

Occult Hepatitis B Demonstrated by Anti-HBc and HBV DNA in HIV-Positive Patients

Background: In patients who are hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive, but HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) -negative, the infection is referred to as occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Occult HBV infection is harmful when other liver diseases are present, and can aggravate liver damage in in patients with chronic liver diseases. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection the suppression of vir...

full text

HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN AN ANTI-HBC NEGATIVE PATIENT: A CASE REPORT

 ABSTRACT One of the best reliable markers of hepatitis B virus infection is antibodies to the core antigen (Anti-HBc). A first-time blood donor with HBsAg positivity was identified as an HBV carrier that was anti-HBc negative. The patient was followed for 24 months in order to investigate the evolution of his HBV serological profiles and HBVDNA (PCR). In the follow-up for 24 months, HBsAg, HBe...

full text

Significance of Hepatitis B Core Antibody as the Only Marker of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in High Risk Patients

  Background and Objective: Presence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) is defined, as isolated anti-HBc. little is known about the clinical significance of the isolated anti-HBc in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. The aim of this study was to assess the significance of anti-HBc as the onl...

full text

Anti-HBc & HBV-DNA detection in blood donors negative for hepatitis B virus surface antigen in reducing risk of transfusion associated HBV infection.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Though sensitive screening assays for detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) are available, occasional cases of post-transfusion hepatitis B virus infection (PTH) still occur. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) positivity and presence of HBV-DNA in serum sample of healthy blood donors negative for ...

full text

My Resources

Save resource for easier access later

Save to my library Already added to my library

{@ msg_add @}


Journal title

volume 30  issue 1

pages  28- 33

publication date 2005-03-01

By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.

Keywords

Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com

copyright © 2015-2023