RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGH SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN EGYPTIAN BLOOD-DONORS

We performed serologic tests for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on sera obtained from 163 volunteer blood donors seen at one Cairo hospit al. We found HCV infection in 36 donors (22%) measured by a second gen eration enzyme immunoassay. Thirty-five of these 36 positive sera were tested with a second generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) ; 22 (63%) were reactive and another 12 (34%) showed an indeterminate reaction. Overall, 13.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.3-18.9%) of these Egyptian blood donors were serologically confirmed to be infect ed with HCV. Of several demographic variables and medical risk factors examined, the serologically confirmed (RIBA-2 reactive) donors were s ignificantly older than nonreactive donors, and the age-adjusted risk of being HCV-positive was significantly greater in individuals residin g outside Cairo. A knowledge of having received injections, of having a history of schistosomiasis, or of having concomitant hepatitis B sur face antigen or antibody were significantly associated with an increas ed risk of HCV-seropositivity; however, after adjusting for confoundin g demographic factors, only schistosomiasis (odds ratio = 8.9, 95% CI = 2.35-33.52) was significantly associated with HCV infection. The HCV seropositive rate of 13.6% among Egyptians is 5-35-fold higher than t hat reported from volunteer blood donors in other countries. Screening for HCV should be instituted in Egyptian blood banks. Blood banks tha t do not test for HCV should include a history of schistosomiasis in t heir exclusion criteria used for routine screening of blood donors.