Vol 2, No 1 (2009)
Research paper
Published online: 2009-02-12
HBsAg detection in blood donors in Poland, 1995–2004
Journal of Transfusion Medicine 2009;2(1):20-25.
Abstract
Background: At the end of the 1980s the incidence rate of hepatitis B in Poland was one of
the highest in Europe. The aim of our study was to analyse HBsAg detection rates in Polish
blood donors in the years 1995–2004.
Materials and methods: Between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2004, 4.669.435 donors were screened for HBsAg: 1.896.770 first time donors and 2,772,665 repeat donors.
Results: HBs antigen was detected in 0.35% of all Polish blood donors; in 0.79% of the first time donors and 0.06% of the repeat donors. The HBsAg detection rate decreased during the analysed period, from about 1% in 1995 to 0.67% in 2004 for first time donors, and from 0.088% to 0.017% in repeat blood donors. The relative decline rate was greater for repeat donors than for first time donors (20.7% per year and 5.4 % per year, respectively). A wide range of trends for HBsAg prevalence was observed in different regions of the country. For repeat donors it ranged from a 33.5% decrease per year in the southwest to a stable level (about 0%) in the northeast. In most regions, a decreasing tendency was observed for first time donors (max 10.9% per year) although a 3.4% per year increase was observed in the central region (łódzkie).
Conclusions: In 1995–2004 the frequency of HBV infection marker in Poland was higher than in most European countries. A decreasing tendency for HBsAg detection in blood donors was observed. Such a trend was found both in repeat and first time donors. In one region, however, an inverse tendency was observed.
Materials and methods: Between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2004, 4.669.435 donors were screened for HBsAg: 1.896.770 first time donors and 2,772,665 repeat donors.
Results: HBs antigen was detected in 0.35% of all Polish blood donors; in 0.79% of the first time donors and 0.06% of the repeat donors. The HBsAg detection rate decreased during the analysed period, from about 1% in 1995 to 0.67% in 2004 for first time donors, and from 0.088% to 0.017% in repeat blood donors. The relative decline rate was greater for repeat donors than for first time donors (20.7% per year and 5.4 % per year, respectively). A wide range of trends for HBsAg prevalence was observed in different regions of the country. For repeat donors it ranged from a 33.5% decrease per year in the southwest to a stable level (about 0%) in the northeast. In most regions, a decreasing tendency was observed for first time donors (max 10.9% per year) although a 3.4% per year increase was observed in the central region (łódzkie).
Conclusions: In 1995–2004 the frequency of HBV infection marker in Poland was higher than in most European countries. A decreasing tendency for HBsAg detection in blood donors was observed. Such a trend was found both in repeat and first time donors. In one region, however, an inverse tendency was observed.
Keywords: HBVHBsAgblood donorsscreening
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