Occult hepatitis B- viral infections among blood donors in Duhok-Iraq

Noor Rizqo  Mikha; Amer Abdalla  Goreal

doi:10.56056/amj.2025.318

Authors

Noor Rizqo Mikha M,B,Ch,B., KHCMS Clinical Microbiology student, Azadi Teaching Hospital-Duhok
Amer Abdalla Goreal M,B,Ch,B. M.Sc. F.I.B.M.S. Assist. Prof. Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Duhok

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56056/amj.2025.318

Keywords:

Anti HBc, Blood donors, Hepatitis B virus, Occult Hepatitis B

Abstract

Background & objectives: When a patient has occult hepatitis B virus infection, HBV-DNA is detected in blood or liver tissues with negative HBsAg, with or without anti-HBc antibodies. The study's objective was to ascertain the prevalence of occult HBV infection among Duhok City blood donors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study has been conducted at Duhok blood bank from November 2022 to January 2023. Plasma samples were obtained from 100 willing blood donors (98male, 2 females, 21-67 years old) who tested negative for HBsAg but positive for AntiHBc. HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive blood donors have been examined by Anti-HBs II (immunoassay for quantitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen). Next, with the use of a Viral Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit, DNA was isolated from plasma samples. An automated real-time PCR approach was used to identify HBV DNA.

Results: Of the 3156 HBsAg negative donors, 100 (3.16%) tested positive for anti HBc antibodies (total), 20 (20%) tested negative, and 80 (80%) tested positive for anti HBs Antibodies. All 100 donors had negative results from the real-time PCR with no HBV-DNA. No significant correlations were found between AntiHBc and AntiHBs results with sex and different age groups of donors.

Conclusion: No occult HBV infection was detected among Anti-HBc positive donors who were deferral from blood bank reserve. Taking in consideration that 80% of them have protective titer of Anti -HBs, reevaluation of the exemption of such blood donors should be done to reduce the deferral of donors and enhance blood bank reserve.

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