Benefit of dynamic over static incubation in the detection of a low-level HBsAg (chronic carrier) bone donor.

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B infection can be transmitted by organ or tissue transplantation.

CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old man received a bone graft from a donor who tested negative for HbsAg with a static-mode assay. The same donor, on a subsequent donation, was found to be HbsAg-positive with a dynamic mode assay. The archival sample from the initial donation also tested HbsAg-positive with the dynamic-mode assay. The recipient of the bone, who had received HBV vaccine in the past, did not develop clinical or laboratory evidence of HBV infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the importance of sensitive microbiological test protocols in the context of tissue banking.