Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies among blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, 1996-2001

The prevalence of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in blood donors in this hospital has not been determined. The burden of the disease in the general population cannot be overemphasized. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence to HIV and HBsAg antibodies in asymptomatic blood donors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. A total number of 7,497 blood donors aged 18 to 58 years were studied, respectively, from July 1996 to December 2001. The rate of seropositivity is documented. 225 blood donors were seropositive for antibodies to HIV [3.0%] with prevalence of 3.0, while 252 of the donors [3.36%] were seropositive to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen [HBsAg]. The trend of HIV seroprevalence rose from 2.0 in 1996 to 3.0 in the year 2001. This study does not only provide evidence of prevalence of HIV and HBV infection in blood donors it also provides preliminary evidence of the prevalence of asymptomatic Hepatitis B Virus and HIV infection in Kano

Comparative evaluation of four different HIV antibodies detection techniques in aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

After the first case of human immunodeficiency virus infection [HIV] was officially reported in Nigeria in 1986, several screening centres were set up and several HIV screening Kits were also available in Nigerian market. In our centre, five different types of HIV screening Kits were used between 1997 and 2000. These Kits are Determine[R], Insta[R], Capillus[R], Genie II[R] and Immunocomb II[R] techniques. The latter was always used as second technique before confirthation. The need to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of these Kits became necessary due to discrepancies in the result recorded. Out of 1286 tests performed using Determine[R] Kit 33 [16.8%] false positive results were observed. Similarly, 2 [2.47%] false positive results were observed out of 732 tests using Insta[R]. No false positive results were observed for Capillus[R] and Genie II[R], out of 1012 and 370 tests, respectively, performed using these Kits. It is suggested that a lot of field trials be done in Africa before new Kits are allowed for use