A Study on Prevalence and Subtypes of Hepatitis C Virus among Blood Donors in Some Areas of Shandong Province

To investigate the distribution of HCV infection and subtypes among blood donors in some areas of Shandong Province. MethodSerum samples were collected from 424 paid blood donors. Anti-HCV was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Serotypes of anti-HCV positive sera were identified by ELISA and genotypes were determined by RT-PCR.ResultsThe HCV prevalence of 424 blood donors was 21.70% (92/424). It was significantly higher in the donors donating blood and plasma (45.14%) than in the donors with only blood donation (6.94%). Of 92 anti-HCV positive sera detected, 32 (34.78%) were typed by ELISA. 30 (93.75%) were serotype Ⅰ, and 2 (6.25%) serotype Ⅱ. Of these 32 sera, 30 were determined by RT-PCR genotype method. HCV genotypes Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅱ/Ⅲ were 26 (87.67%),3(10%), and Ⅰ(3.33%), respectively. The coincidence rate of the two methods was 93.33% (28/30).ConclusionThe prevalence of HCV among blood donors in some areas of Shandong Province was relatively high. Plasma-donation was a risk factor of HCV infection in blood donors.The prevalent subtypes of HCV were serotype Ⅰ and genotype Ⅱ.