Prevalence Of Occult Hepatitis B Infection Among Blood Donors, Pregnant Women And Hemodialysis Patients Of A Tertiary Care Hospital In Puducherry
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: To study the prevalence of occult Hepatitis B infection among blood donors, pregnant women and hemodialysis patients.Methods: Blood Samples from 150 subjects was initially tested for HBsAg by rapid card method (HEPACARD).Manufacturer's guidelines were strictly followed.Samples was initially stored at 4°c until it is tested for HBsAg and later on stored at -80°C.All the samples negative for HBsAg was subjected to HBcAb(total) ELISA using commercially available kit from Dia.Pro Diagnostic.All the samples positive for HBcAb(total) was subjected to RT-PCR to detect HBV core gene.HBV DNA was extracted by DNA extraction kit(HELINI Purefast Viral nucleic acid Mini spin prep kit).Real time PCR was done using HELINI Hepatitis-B virus [HBV] kit.Results: Among 150 HBsAg negative individuals, 10(7%) were positive for total Anti-HBc and 140 (93%) were negative for Anti-HBc.Out of 10 Anti-HBc positive study participants, 2(20%) were from blood donors, 3(30%) were from haemodialysis patients and 5(50%) were from pregnant women.None of this 10 Anti-HBc positive study participants had previous H/O Hepatitis and HBV vaccination history.Of these 10 Anti-HBc positive study participants, HBV DNA was detected in 2 study participants.Two positive HBV DNA samples were from blood donors and both were male.The prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B infection in this study was 1.3%.Conclusion: Anti HBc is a marker seen in acute, chronic, and resolved HBV infections.Because 20% of OBI are seronegative, testing with Anti HBc alone may miss the diagnosis.HBV DNA NAT is costly and unavailable in many resource-constrained, high-endemic countries.To avoid OBI transmission, we should use low-cost, high-sensitivity PCR analysis in Anti HBc and Anti HBs negative high-risk patients especially blood donors.
Author: Shalini V
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404775681