HCV antibodies among blood donors in the Republic of Macedonia

1655 blood donors from our from our country are investigated with the 2nd generation test for HCV antibodies and only 297 blood donors were tested with the 1st generation. With 2nd generation test for HCV antibodies the percentage of HCV antibodies positive blood donors is 1.15% (1992) and with 1st generation HCV antibodies it test is 0.67% (1991) The problems of hepatitis transmitted by blood transfusion are very complex and unresolved in our country. The HCV antibodies test is a new possibility in defining the nature of transfusion mediated hepatitis

HCV infection in the transfusion service: approach and control

HCV infection is a very severe health and social problem both for the richest and the poorest countries. Our republic is in the group of European countries with a high prevalence of HCV infection, therefore HCV antibodies testing is necessary in our country (blood donors, blood products, tissues, organs, etc): the education of blood transfusion personnel for HCV antibodies testing, and the quality control of the testing will be organized by Republics Institute of Transfusiology. With the use of the 1st generation of HCV testing the percentage of HCV antibodies positive blood donors is 0.67% and with the 2nd generation is 1.15% (297 donors are investigated with 1st generation and 1655 with 2nd generation)the highest percentage of HCV antibodies positive patients are those on haemodialysis, 75.56% (186 HCV antibodies positive patients from 286 investigated)