The evaluation of residual risk of transfusion by HCV antibody detection in voluntary blood donors

Objective To estimate the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV infection in blood do-nations in Shenzhen.Methods The blood samples of donors were tested for HCV antibody by enzyme immunoas-say(EIA).The blood donation of EIA-negative reaction for HCV RNA were tested by MP-NAT.The anti-HCV positive plasmas were further detected for HCV RNA by RT-PCR.The partial genome of HCVE1 and NS5B was sequenced and genotyped.Results Of 254 570 blood donations during 1997-2009,1401 samples with anti-HCV positive were tested.In 113639 serologically negative blood donations,one was positive for HCV RNA,but nega-tive for HCV antibody.The residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV infection was 1:113639.Conclusions There exist high residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HCV infection in blood donations in Shenzhen.Nucleic acid amplification test can further enhance the blood safety and decrease the HCV infection risk of transfusion.