The Role of Hepatitis B Core Antibody Testing in Improving Blood Safety in Resource-Limited Countries Study on Voluntary Blood Donors Fayoum, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) via hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative blood donors has been reported. HBsAg is still the only mandatory HBV screening test of blood donors in Egypt due to high cost of DNA testing of all collected blood. Many resource-limited countries have implemented screening antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) to further improve transfusion safety. The objective of study was to evaluate the significance of screening anti-HBc to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted HBV infection in Egypt.