Australia Antigen and Posttransfusion Hepatitis

. The incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis reported in Copenhagen was studied for 2 consecutive years. The 2 years were comparable in every respect, including the number of transfusions (21,000 per year). In the first year no screening of transfusion blood was made, while in the second year all units of blood were systematically screened for Au antigen by a counterelectrophoresis method. During that year, 49 Au antigen-positive units were detected and refused. The number of cases of transfusion hepatitis officially registered during the 2 years was 9 and 8, respectively. Detailed diagnostic studies revealed that the probable number of cases classifiable as transfusion hepatitis was 8 and 6 in the 2 years. Thus, in the present study screening of transfusion blood for Au antigen has not resulted in an obvious reduction in the incidence of transfusion hepatitis. Three patients were repeatedly examined for more than 6 months after transfusion of a unit of Au antigenaemic blood, but no case or hepatitis or Au antigenaemia was found. Our findings may be related to the fact that cases of acute and chronic hepatitis are unusual among Au antigenaemic Danish blood donors. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the correlation between donor Au antigenaemia, donor liver disease and hepatitis infectivity of donor blood.