Six-year pilot study on nucleic acid testing for blood donations in China

Prevalence of HBV DNA among 20 million seronegative blood donations in China from 2010 to 2015

“…The average prevalence of HBV DNA positive/seronegative blood donations was 1/1482 (6.75 per 10,000). In the areas with high endemicity of HBV, the prevalence of OBI in Hong Kong was roughly 1/3226, which was similar to the prevalence of 1/3239 in Shenzhen city of China, which is geographically close to Hong Kong912. In Taiwan, the prevalence was 1/909, which was similar to the prevalence of the neighbouring Fujian province7.…”

Characterization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS/S gene mutations in blood donors with occult HBV infection in the Baoji area of North China

“…This was approximately three times lower than the data from South China reported by the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases of China (1:631), 19 but it was slightly higher than the data from Hong Kong Red Cross 3239). 13,14 The reasons for the presence of low HBV DNA levels in the absence of detectable HBsAg among individuals with OBI remains unclear, but it is thought that both host and viral factors are important for suppressing viral replication and maintaining control of the infection. 40 The viral and host factors that contribute to OBI are numerous, complex, and vary between individuals.…”

“…Among blood donors in recent years, the incidence of OBI has varied with the prevalence of HBV and public health conditions. Specifically, the OBI incidence was 1:27 (19 of 507 donors) in Nigeria, 1:450 (8 of 3600 donors) in the Brazilian Amazon, 1:2450 (163 of 399,326 donors) and 1:3239 (95 of 307,740 donors) at the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service and Shenzhen Blood Center of South China, 1:19,130 (23 to 4.4 million donors) in the Netherlands, 1:14,903 (34 of 506,689 donors) in Spain, at least 1:2200 (548 of 1,205,796 donors) in a multicenter investigation in China, and 1:5045 (298 of 1,503,484 donors) in a worldwide, multicenter investigation . A recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases of China showed that the incidence of OBI in blood donors in South China was 1:631 (61 of 38,499 donors), and more than one‐half (34 of 61 donors) of the OBI blood samples harbored major hydrophilic region (MHR) mutations, which are associated with failure to detect HBsAg .…”

Potential risk of blood transfusion‐transmitted brucellosis in an endemic area of China

“…Written informed consent was obtained from each participating blood donor. Plasma samples were then routinely screened with two different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for HBsAg and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1/2, and syphilis . Only samples nonreactive for serologic tests and with normal ALT level were tested for Brucella infection.…”

“…Plasma samples were then routinely screened with two different enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for HBsAg and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2, and syphilis. 18 Only samples nonreactive for serologic tests and with normal ALT level were tested for Brucella infection. This study was approved by Southern Medical University Nan Fang Hospital Medical Ethics Committee (Permit Numbers NFYY-2009-23) in accordance with national and institutional policies for medical ethics.…”