Blood Donors Status of HIV, HBV and HCV in Central Blood Bank in Tripoli, Libya

Background: Post transfusion infections such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus infection continues to be an important public health concern with regard to blood transfusion in Libya and in Africa. This concern is related to the screening test.

Objectives: The main aim of this study to investigate the blood donors samples for HIV, HBV and HCV infections in Tripoli-Libya, North Africa during the first five months of 2015.

Methods: The total of 686 blood samples obtained from healthy blood donors who attended Tripoli’s central blood bank, were tested for HBsAg, HCV and HIV using the VITROS® 3600 Immunodiagnostic System.

Results: From the 686 samples examined, the frequency of HBsAg positive cases was 0.8%, the number of anti-HBc positive samples was found to be particularly high in the age group 29 and 36 years (p = 0.0001). The number of anti-HBc positive samples was found to be particularly high in the age group 30-39 years (p=0.01). Most occupation that had positivity with anti-HBc and HBV-DNA were free workers and was less in students. Most positive cases were from east of Tripoli the capital (Tagora, Soq-Aljomaha).

Conclusion: The frequency of HBsAg positive blood donors and anti-HBc among this sample was 0.8% and 0.7% respectively, which is low compared with the international findings. The current study estimated the expected exclusion rate of anti-HBc and HBsAg positive donated blood, as this would be an important factor to consider before donation.