PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS B CORE ANTIGEN IN HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN NEGATIVE BLOOD DONORS IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Post transfusion hepatitis is common even with stringent donor
selection criteria, and screening for HBsAg. Serologic testing for HBsAg and anti-HBc
have been used as the foundation of blood screening in many countries.
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B
core antigen (anti-HBc) in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative blood donors,
other markers of HBV infection and their effect on serum Alanineaminotransferase(ALT)
METHODS: This was a cross sectional study in which 200 HBsAg negative blood
donors were recruited. Screening for the viral markers was done using both rapid test kit
and ELISA for anti-HBc IgM. Quantitative/qualitative analysis of anti-HBc IgM by
“capture” enzyme immunoassay was carried out on all serum samples using DIA.PRO
HBc IgM test kit. The other viral markers were carried out using One step cassette style
HBV test. Serum ALT was determined using Centronic GmbH ALT test kit. SPSS
(version 16.0 windows) was used for data analysis. A p value of <0.05 was considered
significant.
RESULTS: The blood donors were made up of 190 (95%) males and 10 (5%) females
with a mean age of 31.7±7.9 years. The prevalence of anti-HBc IgM was 4%. The other
viral markers ( HBeAg, Anti-HBeAg, Anti-HBs and total anti-HBc) had a prevalence of
1.5%, 23%, 2.5% and 32.5% respectively. The viral markers have no significant
relationship with the age, sex, marital status or the occupation of the donors. Serum
ALT was within reference range in donors positive for anti-HBc and had no significant
relationship (p= 0.325).
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CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of anti-HBc IgM in this study is high and supports
the fact that screening blood donors for HBsAg alone is not sufficient to eliminate HBV.
No similar study has been done in North-central Nigeria, however, this is high when
compared with other few studies that have been carried out in other regions of the
country. A further analysis is required nationwide to determine the significance of
screening for anti-HBc by carrying out NAT testing on positive samples for anti-HBc.
Screening for anti-HBc IgM may be a more economical way to reduce post transfusion
hepatitis in a resource poor country like Nigeria where screening with NAT may not be
feasible at present.