Frequency of detection of markers of viral hepatitis B and C among blood donors in the Republic of Dagestan

The safety of donated blood is one of the key indicators of the program of elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat implemented by the World Health Organization. At the same time, due to the mandatory screening for hepatitis B and C markers, blood donors are one of the population groups reflecting the prevalence of these infections in the general population. The objective of the study was to analyze the frequency of detection of markers of viral hepatitis B and C among blood donors in the Republic of Dagestan in 2019–2023. Materials and methods. We analyzed the results of testing for serological and molecular markers of viral hepatitis B and C in 124943 gratuitous blood donors examined in 2019–2023 at the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Dagestan “Republican Blood Transfusion Station” (Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan). Results. Based on detection of hepatitis B and C markers, 1265 donors (1.01%) were diverted. Hepatitis C markers accounted for 32.2% of donor withdrawals and hepatitis B markers accounted for 67.8% of donor withdrawals, while detection of markers of current HBV infection (HBsAg or HBV DNA) or a questionable result in their detection accounted for 52.8% of donor withdrawals, and in 16.8% of cases donors were withdrawn as a result of detection of anti-HBs in a control serologic test. Diversion of donors based on a doubtful result of detection of hepatitis B and C markers amounted to 11.9% in the total structure of diversion based on the results of viral hepatitis diagnostics, with 11.1% of cases of diversion due to an uncertain result of anti-HCV detection, and only 0.8% of cases – HBsAg. The proportion of latent HBsAg-negative HBV infection was 6.7% (25/371) among HBV-infected donors. Among 156 donors with confirmed HCV infection markers, anti-HCV was detected in 98.7% and HCV RNA was detected in 1.3% (2 cases) when anti-HCV was negative. Latent HBV infection was significantly more frequent among infected donors than HCV infection during the serologic window period (6.7% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.0083, Fisher's criterion). Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrated a high prevalence of HBV infection markers among blood donors in the Republic of Dagestan with a relatively low prevalence of HCV infection markers. The highest proportion of samples negative in serologic tests, but reactive in molecular tests, was also hepatitis B, which indicates the importance of latent HBV infection in ensuring the safety of donor blood. The results obtained confirm the unfavorable epidemic situation of hepatitis B in the region and indicate the need to increase the coverage of the population with vaccination against this infection, which will contribute to reducing the risk of post-transfusion transmission of HBV. Key words: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, blood donation, viral blood safety