THE PREVALENCE OF POSITIVE HEPATITIS-B, HEPATITIS-C, AND HIV SEROLOGYIN CORNEA DONORS PRESCREENED BY MEDICAL AND SOCIAL-HISTORY IN ONTARIO, CANADA

Purpose, To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the serum of cornea donors who had been previously screened by social and medical history by the Eye Bank of Canada, Ontario Division. Method. A retrospective e xamination of the donor records of the Eye Bank of Canada, Ontario Div ision, was conducted. A total of 3,228 records were examined covering the period from May 17, 1993 to May 31, 1996. Results, The prevalence of HBV was determined to be 0.25%, HCV, 0.93%; and HN, 0.931%. Conclus ion, The data revealed that despite the use of medical and social hist ory to prescreen, a small percentage of prescreened donors test serolo gically positive. A comparison of the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV in the prescreened cornea donors to a similarly screened cohort of blo od donors over a similar time period reveals a higher prevalence in al l three diseases in the cohort of cornea donors. An examination of the demographic characteristics of the population as a whole versus the t hree groups with confirmed serology failed to show a significant diffe rence between the seropositive and seronegative groups. This study con firms the value and necessity of serologic prescreening of cornea dono rs as is currently the standard of practice.