HCV transmission through blood transfusion: are HCV-RNA titer in donor serum and genotype major determinants of infection outcome?
Cardoso, M.S.; Koerner, K.; Epple, S.; Dengler, T.; Kerowgan, M.; Kubanek, B.
Beitrage Zur Infusionstherapie und Transfusionsmedizin 33: 225-230
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1023-2028 PMID: 8865947 Document Number: 469302
In this paper we report the results of a retrospective investigation on anti-HCV supplemental test positive blood donors from 1993 and 1994. 22 living recipients of blood/blood components from 15 donors were localized and enrolled in the study. Serum from these individuals were tested by serological assays and RT/PCR. HCV-RNA titer was determined for all positive donors. Genotyping was performed for all HCV-RNA positive individuals (donors and recipients). We observed that less than 50% of the recipients of previous donations from those positive donors did develop serological markers of HCV infection. HCV-RNA titers in donor's serum varied from 2 x 10(3) to 5 x 10(5) copies/ml but a direct correlation between viral RNA titer and the outcome of infection could not be established. Genotype investigation revealed 100% identity of genotypes within the pairs of donors/recipients. Genotype 1 b reached a prevalence of 75% within this group.