Caracterização epidemiológica e molecular do vírus da hepatite C (HCV) em candidatos à doação de sangue do hemocentro de Roraima

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis C infection (HCV) is presented as both acute and chronic and most often is asymptomatic, it presents several risk factors that may vary across population groups and the definition of infection is still a challenge reflecting in blood banks which can be detected by the marker antibody against HCV (anti-HCV) and HCV NAT (detection of HCV nucleic acids). Objective: To trace the epidemiological profile and the molecular characteristics of HCV infection in candidates for blood donation the Blood Center of Roraima. Methods: positive or indeterminate anti-HCV candidates were selected by the 2nd sample collection attendance as routine. It was collected results of the screening of blood donation and 2nd sample. And new sample collected for quantification of HCV RNA by Abbott RealTimeTM HCV Assay platform and applied epidemiological questionnaire. Results: Candidates for blood donation had the characteristics, young people aged 18-29 years (63.6%) of males (72.7%), single (50.0%), from the capital Boa Vista, and 54.5% were repeat donors, with evidence of exposure to risk factors (surgical procedures, hygiene objects sharing, etc.); 21 candidates to blood donation obtained positive results or indeterminate for anti-HCV and one result with NAT detectable HCV screening of the donation. In the 2nd sample test anti-HCV, 12 were reagents, 9 non-reactive, 1 indeterminate and NAT undetectable. In no sample was detectable HCV RNA. Conclusion: It is suggested that these donors are low viral load being impossible to detect or plasma clearance or anti-HCV results from the screening of blood donation can be false positives.