Irish Child Health Database - Peer Reviewed Papers
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Outcome of an optional HCV screening program for blood transfusion recipients in Ireland
Published in:
Transfusion, Vol: 42, Page: 1501-6
Publication Date:
November 2002
Aims & Objectives:
This aim of this study was to screen for transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: An optional (general) HCV testing program for blood and blood component recipients before the introduction of routine donor anti-HCV screening (October 1991) was launched in Ireland in 1995 to complement the targeted lookback program in progress at that time and to identify transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The public were informed of the opportunity to avail of screening by widespread media coverage. Screening was by an initial ELISA (Abbott 3.0, Abbott Laboratories) at the transfusion center laboratories. Reactive samples were referred to a virus reference laboratory where two additional ELISAs (Ortho 3.0, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics; and Murex 3.0, Murex) were performed. Confirmation of ELISA-positive samples was by a RIBA (RIBA 3.0, Chiron Corp.). All patients found to be anti-HCV- seropositive were tested for HCV RNA by PCR and were referred to a hepatologist. RESULTS: A total of 14,917 persons have been tested for hepatitis C in this program to date (85% women). Sixty-one people were confirmed positive for HCV by RIBA 3.0 (0.4%). Excluding persons with other risk factors (n = 15), the HCV positivity rate for blood component transfusion recipients (n = 46) was 0.3 percent. Of the 46 confirmed hepatitis C-positive blood component transfusion recipients, 32 were women (70%), 24 of whom received transfusion for obstetric or gynecologic indications (75%). Thirty-eight of 46 (83%) anti-HCV seropositive transfusion recipients tested had detectable HCV RNA by PCR. CONCLUSION: This program identified 46 transfusion recipients and 10 coagulation factor concentrate recipients, all of whom were previously unaware of their infection. The majority of HCV-positive transfusion recipients identified were women. This may reflect that women are longer living survivors of transfusion therapy or alternatively, in our experience, that Irish women perceive themselves at greater risk of hepatitis C because of the well-publicized association of this virus with recipients (women) of Irish RhIG.
Authors:
Study Type:
Study Papers » Screening Study » Descriptive Studies - Studies with a health technology dimension
Categories:
transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C
International Classification:
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Viral hepatitis - hepatitis C
Keywords:
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Blood Component Transfusion/adverse effects
- Blood Donors
- Blood Transfusion/ adverse effects
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Disease Transmission, Horizontal
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Female
- Hepacivirus/genetics/immunology/ isolation & purification
- Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood
- Hepatitis C/blood/epidemiology/prevention & control/ transmission
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Infant
- Ireland/epidemiology
- Male
- Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data
- Middle Aged
- Prevalence
- Program Evaluation
- Renal Dialysis/adverse effects
- Risk Factors
- RNA, Viral/blood
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications
- Viremia/blood/diagnosis/epidemiology/transmission
Geography:
Republic of Ireland (Republic of Ireland)