HBV and HCV infected bloos donations interdicted by individual donation nucleic acid testing (ID-NAT) in Lithuania

Abstract

Background: In December 2004 the National Blood Center (NBC) of Lithuania implemented individual donation (ID) NAT screening for stored seronegative plasma units. From September 2005 the NAT results are used for the release of labile blood components. Aim: 1) To determine the number of HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA and HIVRNA positive donations in seronegative blood donors, 2) to compare the NAT yield rate with the prevalence and incidence of serological markers in first time and repeat donors. Methods: Blood donations are tested for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti- HIV1/2 by AxSYM (Abbott), and seronegative donations are then tested individually for HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA and HIV-RNA by the semiautomated HBV/HCV/HIV-1 Procleix Ultrio test. Initial reactive donations in serology and NAT are not used for transfusion. NAT reactive units are repeated in duplicate Ultrio tests as well as discriminatory probe (dHXV) assays. Seroreactive samples are confirmed with the following Methods: HBsAg neutralisation (Abbott), anti-HCV RecomBlot (Microgen), anti-HIV Inno-LIA HIVI/II (Innogenetics). The dHCV reactive donations were tested for HCV-RNA load (Bayer Versant bDNA) and HCV genotype (InnoLipa). Ultrio repeat and/or HBV reactives were confirmed by HBV-PCR (1 ml Ampliscreen) and anti-HBc AxSYM titer (% inhibition in 1:10 dilution). Results: From October 13 2004 to [...].