Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C and HIV antibodies in a low-risk blood donor group, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

We investigated the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection among 258 clergymen-in-training [age range 18-39 years] who represented a donor population that fulfilled the criteria for safe blood transfusion. In all, 15.1% of the men were positive for HBsAg, 4.3% were positive for anti-HCV and 2.7% were HIV- positive; 22.1% were infected with at least one of these viruses. Co-infection with HIV and HBV was found in 0.4% of the subjects, HBV and HCV in 0.4%, and HIV and HCV in 0%. This underscores the importance of routine screening of blood before transfusion, regardless of the donor background: