[Hepatitis B--significance for transfusion medicine].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the present risk for transfusion-associated hepatitis B in Germany or in countries with low hepatitis B incidence, respectively.

DATA SOURCES: Selected relevant publications since 1978, own data.

RESULTS

Despite donor selection and HBsAg screening hepatitis B infections after transfusion are reported to occur with a frequency of 0.2-1.8%. The most important source are probably donors who are viral carriers despite lacking HBsAg. This serological pattern is often found in individuals showing anti-HBc as only marker for a hepatitis B infection. About one third of these people are thought to be carriers of HBV. How many of these individuals belong to the blood donor population in Germany is at present unknown.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies evaluating the frequency of HBsAg-negative HBV carriers among blood donors are urgently required. Results of such investigations will show whether the introduction of additional tests, such as screening for anti-HBc, will further diminish the risk for posttransfusion hepatitis B.