Serological Study of Hepatitis B Occult Among Blood Donors and Couples in Al- Najaf Province

Abstract

Transfusion is a major problem for viral hepatitis even after the HBsAg test is approved by Rapid Test.  Note that it is the only test used by some blood banks and some centers for those who are about to get married.  However, HBsAg-negative individuals do not exclude the risk of transmission of hepatitis B, as it may be in the 'window period' or have a mutant strain.  Detection of antibodies during this period to HBcIgM represents a useful and more accurate serological marker. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of anti-HBc IgM screening of HBsAg-negative blood donors and future married couples in order to reduce the risk of hepatitis B virus transmission in Al-Najaf Governorate. The current study was conducted in the College of Education for Girls, University of Kufa, Department of Life Sciences. Samples were collected on 10/21/2020 until 1/2/2021 from the Central Blood Bank and the General Hospital in Al-Manathrah in Najaf Governorate. 546 serum samples were collected from two sources: 450 male blood donors in the main blood bank and 96 newlyweds - of both sexes - (55 females and 41 males).  Rapid serological tests were applied for the detection of anti-HCV, HIV1/2, HbsAg, ELISA HBcAg test and Nested PCR test, which were conducted in the laboratory of Iraqi biotechnology companies in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate. The results showed that all samples examined by Rapid Test were negative for HBsAg.  When conducting the ELISA test, it was detected that 30 samples were 5.49% positive for HBcAg, and the results of the study showed that there were no significant differences between the source of the sample for blood donors and those who are about to marry, although the infection rate of males was higher than females, and there were no significant differences between the sexes at the probability level of 5%  With regard to ages, it was found that the highest rate of infection was within the older age groups 58-68 years 23.52% compared to other age groups.  There are no significant differences at the 5% probability level for the nature of housing.