[Hepatitis C virus antibody in Hungarian blood donors, persons at risk and patients with post-transfusion hepatitis].

: The authors screened blood donors, persons at high risk of infection and patients with post-transfusion hepatitis by the use of the new hepatitis C antibody test. 1.7% of persons donating blood acceptable for use according to current criteria were found positive. This ratio was markedly higher among donors displaying an elevated transaminase level. Among the various patients tested 85% of the haemophiliacs, 14% of the transfused haematology patients, and 40% of those on dialysis were found positive. In two groups of patients with post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis the ratio of positives was 69% and 92%, respectively. The frequency of hepatitis C antibody was not sizably higher in the health personnel tested than that found in blood donors. The results indicate hepatitis C virus to be the main source of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis in Hungary too. As expected, HBc antibody revealing a previous contact with hepatitis B virus was found very frequent in patients with coagulopathies and in those on dialysis. A relatively high anti-HBc prevalence was found among health personnel and blood donors too. Authors intend to emphasize the need of thorough consideration of indications in hemotherapy although improvements in the screening of donations can diminish the risk of virus transmission by blood or blood derivatives.