EFFECT OF HEPATITIS-C ANTIBODY SCREENING IN BLOOD-DONORS ON POSTTRANSFUSION HEPATITIS IN TAIWAN

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generatio n immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusi on hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepati tis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 pat ients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, se ven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatit is A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr viru s (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti- CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of c hronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-Ju ly 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening h as effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.