Clinical importance of imunoglobulin classes of HCV antibodies

In the Department of haemostasis and thrombosis of the Institute of Blood Transfusion, Skopje, a method has been developed for the identification of immunoglobulin classes of HCV antibodies, the differentiation of immunoglobulin classes of HCV antibodies gives the possibility of identifying the acute type of HCV infection (only IgM type of HCV antibodies present) and the chronic type of HCV infection (both IgG and IgM type of HCV antibodies present). Both the macro-and micro-ELISA system are employed in the immunoglobulin classes identification of HCV antibodies. The method we used is a double sandwich ELISA technique with the use of monospecific antisera for IgG and IgM

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)

Incidence of HCV antibodies among blood donors in Stip area

A second generation test for HCV antibody detection in sera coming from Stip county is used. The percentage of antibodies positive blood donors in Stip is very similar to to that in the Republic of Macedonia, 1,00% in Stip and 1.15% in Macedonija. Some of the causes related to the possibility that the real percentage of HCV antibodies positive blood donors is higher than that found are presented. The necessity of the introduction of a systemic use of HCV antibodies determination in blood donors is emphasized