Genoprevalence of TT virus among clinical and auxiliary UK dental healthcare workers: a pilot study

Background In 1997 a new human hepatotropic virus, TT virus (TTV), was iden tified. The clinical significance of TT virus infection remains unclear. Objective To undertake an initial evaluation of the genoprevalence of TTV D NA among health care workers in the United Kingdom. Setting A UK dental hospital. Study design The sera of 53 dental. healthcare workers (9 dentists, 14 dent alnurses and 30 office staff) were tested for the presence of TTV DNA using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results TT virus DNA was detected in 3 out of 53 (5.7%) samples. This frequ ency of TTV carriage is similar to that of blood donors and healthy persons in the UK. Conclusion The present data suggest that dental healthcare workers in the U K are not at increased risk of nosocomial acquisition of TT virus.