THE PREVALENCE OF ANTI-HCV AMONG CHINESE VOLUNTARY BLOOD-DONORS IN TAIWAN

ABSTRACT: In Taiwan, the prevalence of circulating anti‐HCV is 2 percent among first‐time voluntary Chinese blood donors, 10 percent among donors with elevated ALT levels (>45 IU/L), and higher among older men. The carrier rate for HBsAg was 18.6 percent and the frequency of positive HBV marker(s) (HBsAg, anti‐HBc, anti‐HBs) was 86.4 percent among first‐time donors. There is no significant correlation between HBV and HCV infections in Taiwan, because there is no significant difference in the frequency of anti‐HCV among donors with or without HBV markers. The frequency of anti‐HCV among qualified donors in Taiwan (ALT <45 IU/L, not tested for anti‐HBc) is 1.8 percent, which is not significantly different from the frequency (1.6%) in donors with normal ALT and negative for HBV marker(s) (qualified donors by Western Standards). Therefore, ALT is the most important surrogate marker for HCV infection in Taiwan. 1990 AABB