Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among the Blood Donors in Golestan Province: Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objectives: despite the increased sensitivity of screening tests, the hbv can be transmitted during the window period and occult hepatitis b infection. the purpose of this study was to evaluate hbv markers and prevalence of obi among hbsag negative blood donors in golestan province. materials and methods: anti-hbc (igm and igg), anti-hbs and anti-hbe tests on 4313 serum samples (hbsag negative) were performed by elisa method. also, all samples for the presence of hbv- dna were tested by using nat methods. spss software and chi-square test were used for data analysis. results: of the 4313 samples, 384 (8.9%) sera were anti-hbc positive. also, of 384 anti-hbc positive samples, 302 (78.65%) were anti-hbs positive and 152 (39.6%) were anti-hbe positive. thirty-nine (0.90%) samples were anti-hbc positive, anti-hbs negative and anti-hbe negative. hbv-dna was not detected in any of specimens. conclusion: based on the results of retesting the isolated anti-hbc samples that after one year recalling, had undetectable hbv-dna and for the prevention of the decreasing of healthy blood donation (due to false positive anti-hbc) and preservation of the blood supplies; individual donor nucleic acid testing (id-nat) along with the anti-hbc testing for the improving blood safety is recommended.