HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-RNA IN SERUM OF BLOOD-DONORS WITH OR WITHOUT ELEVATED TRANSAMINASE LEVELS

The pattern of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia in blood donors who are positive for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) according to the level of tra nsaminase activity is unclear. A polymerase chain reaction-based HCV R NA detection method was used to study two clearly defined groups of an ti-HCV-positive blood donors with repeatedly normal (n = 27) and eleva ted (n = 17) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. HCV RNA was detect ed in only 4 of 27 blood donors with normal ALT values and 15 of 17 wi th elevated ALT values. These results indicate that anti-HCV-positive blood donors with normal ALT levels constitute a heterogeneous group, as HCV viremia is detectable in only a small proportion of cases. Poly merase chain reaction should be useful in the surveillance of anti-HCV -positive blood donors with normal ALT levels, by identifying those wh o might benefit from further investigation and treatment.