A total of 20,643 samples ofblood donated to three American Red Cross Blood
Service regions were tested for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in order to
evaluate and understand its significance and implications. All 20,643 samples were nonreactive
for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) when screened at the regions. Overall, 2.2%
of all samples were found to have anti-HBc, and a total of 16 had anti-HBc in the absence of
antibodies to surface antigen (anti-HBs) activity. 1 of the 16 samples with anti-HBc in the
absence of anti-HBs was found to have HBsAg when tested by a sensitive procedural
modification of the Ausria II test. Samples with low levels of anti-HBc activity were significantly
more likely to be negative for anti-HBs.
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