Paper Details

Molecular and serological analysis of surface antigen negative hepatitis B-virus infection among jordanian blood donors

Khalid Al-Kubaisy, Maissa T. Shawagfeh, Afnan A. Al-Najeli, Saied M. Al-Dalaien

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/6.10.82-89

Int. J. Biosci. 6(10), 82-89. May, 2015. (PDF)

Abstract:

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by the presence of viral DNA circulating blood and/or in liver tissue without detectable HBV surface antigen (HBs Ag). This study aims to investigate the molecular basis of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) among Jordanian blood donors. OBI blood donors were tested for HBV serological marker and they had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In this study, we examined a total 578 HBsAg donated healthy individual from the blood bank unit/Islamic Hospital Amman-Jordan, enrolled during 2013. The people age between 20 – 48 years. The test was performed on serum for anti HBC by ELISAand plasma for PCR/NAT. Out of 578 HBsAg negative anti HBc antibody was found positive in 30 donors (5.2%). The positive samples for anti HBC antibody were then investigated to determine the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA using PCR- technique. In conclusion, to be potentially safe of blood donations HBsAg and nucleic acid amplification testing should be implemented even if anti HBsAg negative before blood and organ donation, transplantation, and chemotherapy and in hemodialysis to reduce the risk of HBV transmission among people who donate blood.