Antibodies against hepatitis C virus among blood donors at a private hospital in Cebu /
Oscar Cinco Estalilia
Serum samples from a total of 2,852 blood donors were screened for antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus using a second generation recombinant enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in commercially prepared test kits as part of a study to determine the prevalence rate of anti-HCV among blood donors at the Cebu Doctors Hospital. 316 out of 2,852 (11.08%) blood specimens were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. 166 out of the 316 (52.53%) anti-HCV positive blood specimens had optical density absorbance cutoff values greater than 2,000 indicating a higher infectious potential. 189 out of 1,629 (11.6%) professional blood donors were anti-HCV positive. This was slightly higher when compared to 127 out of 1,223 (10.38%) anti-HCV positive volunteer blood donors. However, this was not statistically significant With the absence of other preventive measures such as active immunizations at the present time, screening for anti-HCV in all blood donors is strongly recommended to diminish the transmission of the Hepatitis C Virus through blood transfusion.