Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Negative Healthy Blood Donors

Abstract

The screening of HBsAg has been the cornerstone in HBV research in various states and has greatly decreased but not eradicated TAHBV. Anti-HBc was supposed to be a good indicator of latent HBV infection in the window after HBsAg disappeared. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B core antibodies in hepatitis B negative surface antigen healthy blood donors. Methods: This Cross-sectional study was held in the Medical Ward 7 of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi from July 17, 2020 - January 16, 2021. A total of 147 healthy blood donors of both sexes, aged 17 to 65 years, who submitted an application for blood donation, were selected. The venous blood (5 ml) was gathered using aseptic technique. For 5 mints; Sera was centrifuged at 3000 rpm and separated. For the qualitative and quantitative detection of anti-HBc IgM, an ELISA test by DIA was performed. Results: Of the 147 patients, 81 (55.10%) were male, 66 (44.90%) were females with a M: F ratio of 1.3: 1. In this study; the patients age range was 17-65 years with 41.45 ± 8.97 years of mean age. The pervasiveness of anti-hepatitis B antibodies in healthy donors of blood who have negative surface antigen of hepatitis B virus was 6.12%. Conclusions: It was found that the pervasiveness of anti-hepatitis B antibodies in healthy donors of blood who have negative surface antigen of hepatitis B virus was 6.12%.