Author/Authors :
Kaminski, Geraldine Sultan Qaboos University - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oman , Alnaqdy, Adel Sultan Qaboos University - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oman , Al-Belushi, Intesar Sultan Qaboos University - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oman , Nograles, Jameel Sultan Qaboos University - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oman , Al-Dhahry, Said H. Sultan Qaboos University - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oman
Abstract :
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA among a selected group of Omani blood donors. Materials and Methods: Two hundred HBsAg-negative donors were screened for anti-HBc. Those found to be positive were investigated for HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. HBsAg was retested on these sera following an immune complex dissociation technique. Results: HBsAg was present in 2.8% of the donors. Forty-one out of 200 (20.5%) HBsAg-negative donors were positive for anti-HBc. Eleven were positive for HBsAg after dissociation, whereas 8 gave readings just over the cutoff. HBV DNA was not detected in this group. Conclusion: Findings indicate that testing donors for HBsAg alone is not sufficient to eliminate HBV from the blood supply in Oman.
Keywords :
Hepatitis B virus , Hepatitis B surface antigen , Hepatitis B core antibodies , Omani blood donors
