Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infection among healthy blood donors in a tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study.

Rahman Shemim; Gogoi Geetanjali

Volume : V, Issue : III, March - 2016

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infection among healthy blood donors in a tertiary care hospital: A retrospective study.

Rahman Shemim, Gogoi Geetanjali

Abstract :

Background: Infection by HBV and HCV cause serious mortality, morbidity and financial burden leading to a major global health problem. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among healthy blood donors of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital from March 2013-Feb 2016 and compare its prevalence among blood donors from other parts of India. Method: A total of 27,606 healthy blood donors was selected and found in the age group 18-47 years in the blood bank of JMCH. All the blood bags from these donors were screened for transfusion transmitted infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, VDRL and malaria parasite. Result: The most common infection was hepatitis B (0.57%) followed by Hepatitis C (0.42%). Replacement donors showed more seropositivity (56.4%) than voluntary donors (43.5%). Conclusion: The occurrence of HBV and HCV infection among blood donors should be monitored carefully to ensure safer blood transfusion.