Identification of infection routes for HCV in blood donors from Germany

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the relevant routes o f infection for hepatitis C virus in blood donors from Baden-Wurttemberg (G ermany). Participants and Methods: For this purpose an epidemiological ques tionnaire was elaborated and sent to 528 blood donors. One half of these do nors had an anti-HCV-positive status confirmed by supplemental test (case g roup); the other half comprised blood donors who were seronegative for all infectious markers (control group). 72% of the enrolled donors (n = 380) se nt back the answered questionnaire for evaluation. Results: From this inves tigation we could identify three major routes of HCV infection: a previous history of blood transfusion (p < 0.05), drug abuse (p < 0.05) and, in male participants, tatooing (p < 0.05). Seropositivity to HCV was significantly related to episodes of hepatitis in adult age (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Additional approaches to the usual preprinted donor's questionn aire are needed, particularly to inquire about drug abuse and tatooing, sin ce the established procedure seems to be quite inefficient.