Expert consensus on the adjustment of blood screening strategy for alanine aminotransferase in Chinese blood donors

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as a non-specific alternative test for hepatitis detection, was listed as a mandatory screening item for blood donors in China in the 1990s and has been continued to this day. However, as a nonspecific indicator of viral infection, the elevation of ALT is easily affected by various factors, resulting in some healthy blood donors being unable to donate blood due to a temporary increase in ALT levels, which leads to a waste of blood resources. Based on previous research findings and preliminary survey data, this expert consensus focuses on optimizing the ALT screening strategy, aiming to provide comprehensive and professional guidance for verifying the effectiveness of ALT testing in blood donors, adjusting the testing strategy, and the practical operation in ALT screening.