Abstract
Background & Aim: The testing for HBcAb is done by different blood centres to ensure the blood safety for transfusion. However, In India, HBcAb is not compulsory test as per Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Introduction of ID-NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) for detection of HBV DNA have proven to be of great success but on the contrary increase the cost of blood transfusion. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to find the possibility of obviating the need of screening of HBcAb with existing ID-NAT, so as to optimize the resource utilization.

Materials & Methods: Donor blood samples between October 2008 and April 2010 covering 8221 samples were collected and tested simultaneously for Anti-HBc and HBsAg ELISA and ID-NAT tests.

Results: Nearly 7% (581) were reactive for HBV marker. Further the samples reactive to serological markers HBsAg & HBcAb (Total), were compared with ID-NAT. Of all the samples reactive for HBV, 7.6% was reactive by ID- NAT. About 2.07% of solitary HBcAb reactive samples were reactive by ID-NAT (Table 1). However, none of the non- reactive samples was reactive to ID-NAT.

Conclusion: Still, HBcAb has a definitive role in ruling out the transmission of HBV among HBsAg non- reactive blood (2.07%; Table 1). On the contrary, not even one sample was NAT reactive and not reactive by CLIA. Screening of blood by Anti- HBcAb didn’t enhance the blood safety. In addition, centers that have incorporated NAT testing may not derive any additional benefit as this cannot replace anti-HBc testing, especially in developing country like ours.

Key words: Hepatitis core antibody, ID-NAT- Individual donor- Nucleic acid Test, HBsAg- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, TTI- Transfusion Transmitted Infection