PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS G VIRUS IN QUEENSLAND BLOOD DONORS

摘要: Objective To determine the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) carriage in Queensland blood donors. Design Cross-sectional survey with retrospective longitudinal study HGV-positive Setting Brisbane Red Cross Blood Bank, 1995. Subjects 100 consecutive donors attending Bank on two days October 1995 and 20 a raised plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level their last donation. Outcome measures Presence HGV RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) currently donated samples archived for up to 34 months. RT-PCR used different methods three specific sets primers probes. Results Five 120 were positive all (four normal ALT levels [4%] one [5%]). Retrospective testing showed that four these five had been persistently RNA-positive at least years, while fifth RNA-negative donations before becoming RNA-positive. No risk factors identified this donor. Conclusions A relatively large number (4%) are