Prevalence of hepatitis B hepatitis C virus infections in potential blood donors in rural Vietnam

Background & objectives: Safe blood and blood products should be offered to all patients in need for blood transfusion. The objectives of the present study were to establish prevalence estimates for hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections as a foundation for safe blood transfusion in rural...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian Journal of Medical Research 2012, Vol.136 (1), p.74
Main Authors: Viet, Le, Lan, Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Ty, Phung Xuan, Bjorkvoll, Bjorn, Hoel, Hedda, Gutteberg, Tore, Husebekk, Anne, Larsen, Stig, Skjerve, Eystein, Husum, Hans
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood donors
Health aspects
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis C virus
Physiological aspects
Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)
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Summary:Background & objectives: Safe blood and blood products should be offered to all patients in need for blood transfusion. The objectives of the present study were to establish prevalence estimates for hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections as a foundation for safe blood transfusion in rural Vietnam, and to check the accuracy of the laboratory analysis used for hepatitis testing of blood donors in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural communities in Quang Tri, Vietnam. A total of 1,200 blood samples collected from potential blood donors were tested by an enzyme immunoassay technique (EIA) for detection of hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibodies to hepatitis C antigen (anti-HCV). The EIA test outcome was validated by a chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay technique (CMIA). Results: The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc in the study population was 11.4 per cent (95% CI 9.6 -13.2) and 51.7 per cent (95% CI 48.8-54.5), respectively, the prevalences being higher in males than females. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.17 per cent. The test agreement between the EIA and CMIA techniques was high both for HBsAg detection ([kappa] = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99) and for anti-HBc detection ([kappa] = 0.89; 95% CI 0.81-0.97). Compared to CMIA results, the positive and negative predictive values of the EIA tests were found to be 94.9 per cent (95% CI 87.5-98.6) and 97.5 per cent (95% CI 86.8-99.9) for HBsAg, and 92.4 per cent (95% CI 84.2-97.2) and 100 per cent (95% CI 91.2-100) for anti-HBc. Interpretation & conclusions: The study shows that hepatitis B virus infection is endemic in rural areas of Vietnam and that almost half of the population is or has been infected. Hepatitis C infection is rare, but false negative test results cannot be ruled out. Also, the results indicate that the EIA performance in blood donor screening in Vietnam may be sub-optimal, missing 2.5 per cent of hepatitis B virus carriers and falsely excluding more than 7 per cent of blood donors. As the prevalence of hepatitis B infection is high, occult hepatitis B infection may represent a threat to safe blood transfusion. Therefore, nucleic acid amplification testing for HBV should be considered for blood donor screening in Vietnam. Key words Anti-HBc--blood donor screening--HBsAg--hepatitis B core antibody--hepatitis B surface antigen--hepatitis C virus--occult hepatitis B infection--safe blood transf
ISSN:0971-5916