Frequency of Hepatitis C virus Antibodies among Blood Donors Attending National Blood Transfusion Center-Khartoum

Abstract

This is descriptive cross sectional study, which conducted to determine frequency of hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV) among blood donors attending National Blood Transfusion Center- in Khartoum in the period from April to June and risk factors 2012 and to correlate presence of anti HCV antibody like previous blood transfusion, , history of surgical operation, alcohol intake and smoking. One hundred eighty six blood donors were investigated, blood specimens were collected and investigated by ELISA technique. Most donors examined were males (182), except (4) donors were females, and their age range from (15-64) years. Among total population hepatitis C virus was detected among 3 (1.6%) of blood donors under study. The correlation between the presence of anti HCV antibodies and risk factors such as previous blood transfusion, surgical operation, smoking, alcohol intake show no significant relationship. All the study populations alcohol intake. had neither previous blood transfusion nor alcohol intake.