TY - JOUR
T1 - Significance of Isolated Hepatitis B Core Antibody in Blood Donors
AU - Schifman, Ron B.
AU - Rivers, Shirley L.
AU - Sampliner, Richard E.
AU - Krammes, Judith E.
PY - 1993/10
Y1 - 1993/10
N2 - Background: About 25% of blood donors who test positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) have no other positive hepatitis B serologic results. Because of the potential importance and diagnostic uncertainty of this test result, we studied its significance by assessing the serologic response to hepatitis B vaccine in donors with an isolated anti-HBc pattern. Methods: Specimens from 300 blood donors that were positive for anti-HBc by enzyme immunoassay were tested for anti-HBc by radioimmunoassay and for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). A subgroup of 37 were further studied after administration of hepatitis B vaccine and compared with 34 similarly vaccinated ageand sex-matched seronegative controls. Measurements of anti-HBs were made at vaccination and 1, 2, 4, 8, 25, and 30 weeks after initial vaccination. Results: Among 300 donors who tested positive for anti-HBc by enzyme immunoassay, the radioimmunoassay for anti-HBc was negative in 76 (25.3%) and the test for anti-HBs was negative in 104 (34.7%). Significant differences were observed for radioimmunoassay anti-HBc and antiHBs titers, alanine aminotransferase, and male-female ratios between four distinct serogroups (A through D) defined by the combination (positive/negative) of radioimmunoassay anti-HBc and anti-HBs results. No significant differences between the study and control groups were observed in the magnitude of anti-HBs responses at any of the six postvaccine testing periods. Conclusions: Isolated anti-HBc in US blood donors is usually a false-positive result, regardless of the titer.
AB - Background: About 25% of blood donors who test positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) have no other positive hepatitis B serologic results. Because of the potential importance and diagnostic uncertainty of this test result, we studied its significance by assessing the serologic response to hepatitis B vaccine in donors with an isolated anti-HBc pattern. Methods: Specimens from 300 blood donors that were positive for anti-HBc by enzyme immunoassay were tested for anti-HBc by radioimmunoassay and for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). A subgroup of 37 were further studied after administration of hepatitis B vaccine and compared with 34 similarly vaccinated ageand sex-matched seronegative controls. Measurements of anti-HBs were made at vaccination and 1, 2, 4, 8, 25, and 30 weeks after initial vaccination. Results: Among 300 donors who tested positive for anti-HBc by enzyme immunoassay, the radioimmunoassay for anti-HBc was negative in 76 (25.3%) and the test for anti-HBs was negative in 104 (34.7%). Significant differences were observed for radioimmunoassay anti-HBc and antiHBs titers, alanine aminotransferase, and male-female ratios between four distinct serogroups (A through D) defined by the combination (positive/negative) of radioimmunoassay anti-HBc and anti-HBs results. No significant differences between the study and control groups were observed in the magnitude of anti-HBs responses at any of the six postvaccine testing periods. Conclusions: Isolated anti-HBc in US blood donors is usually a false-positive result, regardless of the titer.
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U2 - 10.1001/archinte.1993.00410190107012
DO - 10.1001/archinte.1993.00410190107012
M3 - Article
C2 - 8215729
AN - SCOPUS:0027368574
SN - 0003-9926
VL - 153
SP - 2261
EP - 2266
JO - Archives of internal medicine
JF - Archives of internal medicine
IS - 19
ER -