Anti-HBV Surface Antigen Polyclonal antibody

Background Post-transfusion hepatitis B virus (PTHB) infection is still a public health problem in the world. In many developed countries, nucleic acid testing (NAT) for detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-DNA has been implemented to enhance blood donation safety. In Libya, however, the testing for HBV infection is limited to the detection of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) only. Objectives To determine the frequency of anti-Hepatitis B core antibody (HBc) and HBV-DNA in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive blood donors in the main Central Blood Bank Units (CBBUs) in eastern Libya. Methods One thousand blood samples were obtained from healthy blood donors at the five main CBBUs in eastern Libya. The samples were screened for HBsAg and anti-HBc. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to detect HBV-DNA in all anti-HBc-positive samples. Results A total of 94 (9.4%) donors were positive for anti-HBc. Of the 94 anti-HBc-positive samples, 9 samples (9.5%) tested positive for HBV-DNA by real-time PCR. Conclusion The rate of anti-HBc among blood donors in this study (9.4%) was similar to that reported from other regions in the country. In the absence of advanced tests for the detection of HBV infection in blood donors, such as NAT, anti-HBc should be routinely tested for, at least for first-time donors.

There has been no clear consensus on the optimal consolidation periods following HBeAg seroconversion (SC) in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Our study aimed to prospectively compare relapse rates between 12 months' and 18 months' consolidation periods to see whether or not there is beneficial durability of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy with longer consolidation periods. We enrolled a total of 137 HBeAg-positive Asian CHB patients treated with TDF monotherapy. Forty-six patients achieved HBeAg SC. Then, they were randomly assigned to consolidation period of either 12 months (group A) or 18 months (group B). After stopping TDF therapy, all patients were followed up for 12 months. Thirteen patients (56.5%) relapsed in group A and 12 patients (52.2%) relapsed in group B after 12 months' follow-up (P = .958). Pretreatment HBsAg level is the only significant predictor for off-therapy recurrence by univariate analysis (P = .024). Baseline HBeAg >1000 S/CO in group B patients were significantly less likely to relapse than those of group A (P = .046). Baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >133 U/L could significantly predict occurrence of HBeAg SC (P = .008; 95% CI: 0.545-0.763; AUC: 0.654). Overall, a prolonged consolidation period has no positive effect on TDF therapy on sustained viral suppression in HBeAg-positive Asian CHB patients. However, a prolonged consolidation period was beneficial to patients with high baseline semi-quantitative HBeAg levels in terms of off-treatment durability. Baseline ALT > 133 U/L could significantly predict the occurrence of HBeAg SC.