Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major issue in the field of blood transfusion safety and blood components. Serological tests are used to detect anti-HCV antibodies in blood donors. This study was performed to evaluate the status of anti-HCV antibodies in blood donors and serological assays. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data related to the results of screening and confirmation tests of 427,203 blood donors were examined over a 6-year period. RESULTS: The results showed the highest frequency of positive ELISA results 329 (% 0.39) among first-time blood donors. Out of 901 samples with reactive/positive ELISA result, 104 (11.5%) samples had positive or IND confirmation test results which were belong to donors with a history of healthy blood donation. Antibodies against the NS3 (23%) and core (16.9%) antigens had the highest frequency among blood donors with positive/Reactive ELISA, respectively. The core antigen was the highest immunoreactive protein. A median correlation was found between OD in the ELISA test and the antibody profile in the RIBA test (r = 0.62, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The seroconversion in healthy blood donors is worrying in relation to the status of the disease in the community and its high incidence. Using Core and NS3 antigens assay can be helpful in screening and diagnosis or antigen detection might be the first next step following a Positive/Reactive antibody test. The use of serological algorithm in blood transfusion centers is questionable and our research has challenged the theory that blood donors with a history of blood donation are healthier in transmitting viral infections.