The significance of complete serological testing for hepatitis B in heart valve banking

Transplantation. 1993 Jul;56(1):82-4. doi: 10.1097/00007890-199307000-00014.

Abstract

Allograft heart valves obtained from donor hearts have been cryopreserved in the Heart Valve Bank in Rotterdam for transplantation purposes. In contrast to hepatitis B screening of organ donors, which consists of only a rapid HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) assay, tissue donors can be screened more completely for hepatitis B virus (HBV) by HBsAg and antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) tests, and when necessary, anti-HBs and HBV-DNA tests. The value of this complete HBV screening was investigated by evaluation of the HBV screening results of 676 donor sera. HBsAg was positive in 1 serum. Anti-HBc was positive in 63 sera, of which 52 also had positive antibodies against HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) tests (no risk of transmission) and 10 had negative anti-HBs tests. In 3 cases with a negative anti-HBs test the HBV-DNA test was positive (risk of transmission). In 3 cases not enough serum was available to perform all tests, resulting in a total of 7 rejected donors. Single HBsAg testing would have resulted in the rejection of only 1 donor. In the presented group of selected donors, approximately 0.5% of the HBsAg-negative donors were lower-level chronic carriers of hepatitis B. Complete HBV screening decreases the risk of transmission of hepatitis B in allograft heart valve transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Heart Valves*
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control*
  • Hepatitis B / transmission
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Tissue Banks / standards*
  • Tissue Donors*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens