Letter to the Editor Vox Sang 1992;63:285-286
Rene A . Rivero a Rebeca Hedalgo-Gato a Marta Martinez a Porjirio Hernandez a Jose M . Ballester a Kazunari Yamaguchi’ Yoko Fukuyoshib Tetsuyuki Kiyoka wab Kiyoshi Takatsukib a
Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus in Cuban Blood Donors
Institute of Hematology and Immunology, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba; Blood Transfusion Service and the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto, Japan
The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV Ab) in blood donors from several countries has been published. In 50% of the countries where testing has been implemented, HCV seroprevalence among blood donors is 0.5-1.0%, in 25% of the countries, the prevalence is less than 0.5%, and in another 25%, it is greater than 1.0%. This suggests a relation between HCV Ab and posttransfusion non-A non-B hepatitis (NANBH) [l-61. We examined the prevalence of HCV Ab by the HCV antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, Ortho Diagnostic System, Inc.) [7] in Cuban blood donors from 13 provincial blood banks evenly distributed throughout the island and including the City of Havana. The test were done in August, 1991, and results were analyzed at the Institute of Hematology and Immunology in Havana. Race, sex and age of donors were recorded. All 882 subjects (males 824, females 58)
met the Cuban regulations for blood donation. The positive results were confirmed in the same serum sample and repeatedly reactive samples were considered as positive. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in HCV-Ab-positive samples was measured by a colorimetric method [8]. The results were analyzed by the chisquared test and the one-tailed Fisher’s exact test. Seven samples (0.79%), males 6 (1.72%) and females 1 (1.72%), were true positives for HCV Ab. No significant differences in the HCV Ab prevalence was found among regions of the island, race, sex and age-groups of donors (tables 1-3). Table3 shows the sex and age distribution of the 7 positive donors. Only 2 had elevated ALT levels. Although large prospective and retrospective studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of HCV Ab testing in blood donors [9,10] and to confirm if all those positive for HCV Ab are infectious [ll], we consider it neces-
Tablel. HCV antibodies in blood donors by regions of the island
Regions
Tested
HCV-Abpositive
n
n
%
Western Central Eastern
385 253 244
4 2 1
1.03 0.79 0.40
Total
882
7
0.79
Table2. HCV antibodies in blood do-
nors by race Race
Tested
HCV-Abpositive
n
n
%
White Black Mulato
526 146 212
4 1 2
0.76 0.69 0.94
Total
882
7
0.79
Dr. Kazunari Yamaguchi Blood Transfusion Service Kumamoto University Medical School Honjo 1-1-1 Kumamoto, 860 (Japan)
0 1992 S . Karger AG, Basel w42-~007/~2/n634-02ss $2.75/0
sary to continue HCV A b screening of blood donations and to evaluate the epidemiological significance of HCV-in posttransfusion NANBH in Cuba.
Table 3. Age and sex distribution of blood donors positive for HCV antibodies
Sex
Age, years
Total
Rene A . Rivero a Rebeca Hedalgo-Gato a Marta Martinez a Porjirio Hernandez a Jose M . Ballester a Kazunari Yamaguchi’ Yoko Fukuyoshib Tetsuyuki Kiyoka wab Kiyoshi Takatsukib a
Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus in Cuban Blood Donors
Institute of Hematology and Immunology, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba; Blood Transfusion Service and the Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto, Japan
The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV Ab) in blood donors from several countries has been published. In 50% of the countries where testing has been implemented, HCV seroprevalence among blood donors is 0.5-1.0%, in 25% of the countries, the prevalence is less than 0.5%, and in another 25%, it is greater than 1.0%. This suggests a relation between HCV Ab and posttransfusion non-A non-B hepatitis (NANBH) [l-61. We examined the prevalence of HCV Ab by the HCV antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, Ortho Diagnostic System, Inc.) [7] in Cuban blood donors from 13 provincial blood banks evenly distributed throughout the island and including the City of Havana. The test were done in August, 1991, and results were analyzed at the Institute of Hematology and Immunology in Havana. Race, sex and age of donors were recorded. All 882 subjects (males 824, females 58)
met the Cuban regulations for blood donation. The positive results were confirmed in the same serum sample and repeatedly reactive samples were considered as positive. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in HCV-Ab-positive samples was measured by a colorimetric method [8]. The results were analyzed by the chisquared test and the one-tailed Fisher’s exact test. Seven samples (0.79%), males 6 (1.72%) and females 1 (1.72%), were true positives for HCV Ab. No significant differences in the HCV Ab prevalence was found among regions of the island, race, sex and age-groups of donors (tables 1-3). Table3 shows the sex and age distribution of the 7 positive donors. Only 2 had elevated ALT levels. Although large prospective and retrospective studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of HCV Ab testing in blood donors [9,10] and to confirm if all those positive for HCV Ab are infectious [ll], we consider it neces-
Tablel. HCV antibodies in blood donors by regions of the island
Regions
Tested
HCV-Abpositive
n
n
%
Western Central Eastern
385 253 244
4 2 1
1.03 0.79 0.40
Total
882
7
0.79
Table2. HCV antibodies in blood do-
nors by race Race
Tested
HCV-Abpositive
n
n
%
White Black Mulato
526 146 212
4 1 2
0.76 0.69 0.94
Total
882
7
0.79
Dr. Kazunari Yamaguchi Blood Transfusion Service Kumamoto University Medical School Honjo 1-1-1 Kumamoto, 860 (Japan)
0 1992 S . Karger AG, Basel w42-~007/~2/n634-02ss $2.75/0
sary to continue HCV A b screening of blood donations and to evaluate the epidemiological significance of HCV-in posttransfusion NANBH in Cuba.
Table 3. Age and sex distribution of blood donors positive for HCV antibodies
Sex
Age, years
Total
