Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in hepatitis C virus antibody ELISA-positive blood donors according to RIBA-2 status: A case-control survey

Abstract

Studies of blood donors positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are probably biased by the large number of false-positive results. We evaluated the epidemiological and biological characteristics of 177 such donors with regard to the confirmatory second-generation RIBA test (Ortho Diagnostic Systems) and have compared the results to those from an age- and sex-matched control group of 177 donors negative for antibody to hepatitis C virus on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay was positive in 38% of cases, indeterminate in 6% and negative in 56%. The case-control study showed a significantly higher frequency of intravenous drug abuse (27% vs. 0%), blood transfusion (22% vs. 9%), history of jaundice (21% vs. 7%), elevated ALT level (49% vs. 4%) and HBc antibody positivity (32% vs. 7%) in second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive donors. No such differences were found between the second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-negative donors and their controls. The 35 second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive donors without histories of transfusion or intravenous drug abuse had a significantly higher frequency of surgery with major blood loss or prolonged stays in areas of hepatitis B virus endemicity than did their controls (20% vs. 0% and 49% vs. 26%, respectively). In conclusion, at least one risk factor for HCV infection was identified in 82% of the second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive donors, 91% of whom could have been identified on the basis of these risk factors, ALT level and presence of HBc antibody.

Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Koreans According to the Hepatitis C Virus Genotype

“…This study showed that transfusion, the classic form of parenteral transmission, was related significantly to HCV infection, and this is consistent with other studies (11,12). Endoscopy was found to be associated with an increased risk of HCV infection, again this is consistent with other studies, which suggested that HCV could be transmitted during endoscopic examination (13,14).…”

“…This finding conflicts with the results of another study in Taiwan (3) that found acupuncture to be a route of HCV transmission. Other risk factors of parenteral exposure, such as tattooing, dental procedures and ear piercing, were not found to be associated with HCV infection, but this is also controversial (3,12,19,20).…”

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in an HIV-epidemic area in Thailand.

“…In contrast, anti-HCV positivity was found to be associated The findings on sexual risk factors for HIV infection described in this study were consistent with previous reports from northern Thai-land.2324 Injecting drug use and being tattooed were not as important for HIV transmission in this population as they were for HCV. The importance of the parenteral transmission for HCV has been reported in other studies.622 [25][26] The fact that sexual risk factors did not make a significant contribution to …”

HCV-lnfection in Blood Donors: Association between Anti-HCV Core IgM Antibodies and Serum HCV RNA

“…Different risk factors have been described in HCV-infected blood donors: drug use [5,26,[28][29][30], transfusion [5,19,28,29], sexual risk behavior [5,19], surgery [29,31], and acupuncture [31]. In our population, transfusion was the major risk factor associated with PCR-positive samples.…”