Application on nucleic acid amplification testin blood screening

Objective To investigate and analyze the seronegative and NAT-positive donors,and evaluate the feasibility of using NAT in blood screening. Methods Roche PCR, PCR-CHIP, real time fluorescence PCR and TMA were used for the analysis of HBV DNA, HCV RNA and HIV-1 RNA, respectively, from seronegative samples. HBV positive donors were also analyzed for the serological markers by quantitative PCR. Results 28 out of 141 288 donations were found HBV DNA positive and the HBV DNA positive rate was 0.020%. 21 cases of donations were found anti-HBc positive and the rate was 0.015%. 17 donors were found HBsAg(-) and 9 follow up samples showed seroconversion; 4 donors showed the characteristic of window period. One case was confirmed HCV RNA positive and the donation was in the window period. Conclusion It is necessary to implement the highly sensitive HBV and HCV NAT test for blood screening.