Sero epidemiology of hepatitis C in blood donors- 5 yrs study from gandhi hospital blood bank

Abstract

Background: Transmissible infections such as HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis are greatest threat to blood safety for the transfusion recipients. Infection with Hepatitis C virus [HCV] causes Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of anti HCV antibody among blood donors. Methods: The study was conducted in Gandhi hospital Blood Bank for a period of five years from 2008-2012. A total of 43,390 healthy blood donors of both sexes were studied. Results: 1172 were sero positive and all of them are males. 90 of these donors found to be reactive for anti HCV antibodies yielding an overall prevalence of 0.207%. The age distribution ranges from 20-40 years with 80% [72/90] constituting replacement donors [family members, friends of recipients] and 20% [18/90] are voluntary donors. 60% [63/90] belong to urban population and 40% [27/90] are rural. Conclusion: The results of the present study shows that prevalence of HCV is high when compared with the Developed countries like US and England [0.001% and 0.0017%] but low when compared with Egypt[14%] and other cities of India Eg; Delhi[1.57%]. This represents a large reservoir of Hepatitis C infection capable of inflicting significant disease burden on the society.

Keywords

• blood donors
• hcv.