PROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF DONOR BLOOD SCREENING FOR ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS BY FIRST-GENERATION AND 2ND-GENERATION ASSAYS AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING POSTTRANSFUSION HEPATITIS

In November 1989, the Japanese Red Cross began screening blood donors for the hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) by first-generation assa y and high-titer hepatitis B virus core antigen antibody. A significan t reduction in the incidence of acute posttransfusion hepatitis was re ported; however, the incidence still ranged from 2% to 4%. The Red Cro ss changed to the second-generation assay in February 1992, the object ive being the complete elimination of potential posttransfusion hepati tis. The aim was to elucidate the advantage of second-generation assay as a blood-donor screening test. The incidence of posttransfusion hep atitis after the introduction of second-generation assay was compared with that before the introduction of the first-generation assay and wi th that during its use. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis was 9.6% (216/2,240) before anti-HCV-s donor screening. It was 3.7% (24/6 55) and 0.9% (3/326) after the introductions of the first- and second- generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) assays, respectively (chi(2) = 50.0 , P <.01), Blood-donor screening by second-generation anti-HCV provide d a significant benefit compared with the first-generation assay.