Hepatitis C virus infection in volunteer blood donors in Taiwan. Evaluation by hepatitis C antibody assays and the polymerase chain reaction.

A total of 2671 plasma samples that were selected from 22 500 volunteer blood donors in Taiwan were studied for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The donors were stratified into three groups by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Of the donors, 20 768 (92.3%) had an ALT level less than 30 IU/L (group 1), 1080 (4.8%) had an ALT level between 31 and 45 IU/L (group 2), and 652 (2.9%) had an ALT level greater than 45 1 U/L (group 3). To study anti-C100-3 hepatitis C antibody, 2023 plasma samples (10%) from group 1, 321 (30%) from group 2, and 327 (50%) from group 3 were randomly selected and tested