Correlation between Anti‐HBc Titers and HBV DNA in Blood Units without Detectable HBsAg

Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was tested for in 294 blood units which had antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) as the isolated serological marker of HBV infection. After amplification by polymerase chain reaction, HBV DNA was detected in 12 (6.9%) of 175 units that were positive for anti‐HBc with hemagglutination inhibition titers ≧26, significantly more often than in none of 119 units with titers ≦25 (p<0.01). These results indicate that the exclusion of blood units with isolated high‐titer anti‐HBc would be effective for further decreasing the risk of post‐transfusion hepatitis B.