We adopted an automated method for measuring guanase in donor blood and examined the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis when donor blood with high guanase activities was excluded. Sixty-seven (2.4%) of 2,826 units were excluded from use in transfusion because they had guanase activities above 1.71 units per liter. Of 112 recipients, 8 (7%) developed posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. The incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was 17% before adoption of the guanase screening test and 7% after its adoption. Thus, the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly decreased after adoption of this screening test. This study shows that, for prevention of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis, it is important to screen donor blood for guanase activity and discard blood with high activities.

Human liver guanase was purified and a specific antibody against it was raised in rabbits. The antiserum formed a single precipitin line with human liver extract, and also completely inhibited the activity of the liver enzyme. An immunoblotting study showed that the antibody bound specifically to one band of protein with guanase activity and not to other proteins. Therefore, we concluded that this antiserum against the liver enzyme was suitable for use in immunohistochemical demonstration of guanase. In tissue sections, the immunohistochemical reaction with this antibody was positive in the same locations as the histochemical guanase reaction with DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride).

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