Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Seroprevalence among Blood Donors in Ranchi,India

Abstract

Injection drug use is generally considered to be predominant source of new HCV infection in developed countries, while unsafe therapeutic injection and transfusion are likely to be major modes of transmission in the developing world. The present study was conducted with the objective to detect the seroprevalence of HCV among blood donors at RIMS, Ranchi, and different blood banks in Ranchi, India. Convenience sample of 1834 blood donors participated in the study and were screened for the presence of HCV antibody in their sera. The tests carried out were Signal HCV and ELISA test (Span diagnostic, India). All donors were replacement donors. 1765 were male (96.24%). Out of 1834 donors, 3 (0.16%) donors were HCV positive, none being female. Prevalence of 0.22% was found in age group (21–30) years and 0.2% was found in age group (31–40) years.  It appeared from the present study that the overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in blood donors of Ranchi is low, but this emphasizes the necessity for careful selection of blood donors and rigorous screening for HCV by all blood banks to provide safe blood and blood components.