Detection of Hepatitis B Virus by HBsAg and Total HBc Antibody among Blood Donors at National Blood Transfusion and Research Center in Taiz City, Yemen

Abstract

 Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects almost 350 million infected persons universally. HBV can cause hepatocyte damage resulting from acute or chronic hepatitis which complicated to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Blood transfusion represent one of commonly route transmission of HBV. Recently, blood transfusion in Yemen are increasing due to high demands for blood and blood products resulting from war injury, anemia, and malnutrition. This study aimed to determine hepatitis B virus prevalence by investigate surface HBsAg and total HBcAb among blood donors at National Blood Transfusion Center -Taiz branch (NBTRC-TB). All blood samples were collected from blood donors at NBTRC-TB during the period of April to December 2021. A total of 2129 blood donors donated blood at the center, all information were registered at the reception department, and the blood was screened for both markers by ECLIA (Cobas E411). Data of HBsAg and total HBcAb were analyzed statistically by using program SPSS version 26. Among 2129 of blood donors, 98.9% of them were males and 1.1%) were females. All blood donor samples were tested and the result appeared as 1.22% were seropositive to HBsAg, which all positive samples were only for male donors. Whereas, the seroprevalence of total HBcAb was 10.38%; the males have a higher seroprevalence rate (10%) compared to 0.38% in females. For investigation of both markers (HBsAg and HbcAb together) the result appears as three groups (HBsAg negative/HBcAb positive) was 9.16%, while (HBsAg positive/HBcAb positive) was 1.22% and third group (HBsAg negative/ HBcAb negative) was 89.62%; there was statistically significant difference (P<0.001). The high result seropositivity of (HBsAg negative/HBcAb positive) indicates to donors usually with post HBV infection.