Occult hepatitis B virus infection: risk for a blood supply, but how about individuals’ health?

Journal article

The implementation of effective blood donation screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) anti-core antibodies with highly sensitive molecular HBV DNA detection in low-endemic countries like the United Kingdom has improved blood safety. However, the linkage to care and management for blood donors with occult HBV infection (OBI) is a complex dilemma involving virological, clinical, methodological, and social issues. Limited evidence suggests that OBI may accelerate the progression of liver disease and cancer. The need for a specialist referral for donors identified with OBI carries mixed opinions from blood establishments, hepatologists, and public health. Following extensive multidisciplinary discussions, experts agree upon a need for clear messaging for donors and to consider the oncogenic implications of OBI. Proposals for future studies are identified, and the applicability of the recommendations in low-resource, high-endemic regions is considered, as well as the inclusion of OBI in global hepatitis elimination targets.

Authors: Fu, M; Elsharkawy, A; Healy, B; Jackson, C; Bradshaw, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: EClinicalMedicine
• Volume: 81
• Article number: 103095
• Publication date: 2025-02-01
• Acceptance date: 2025-01-20
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103095
• EISSN: 2589-5370
• Language: English
• Keywords: hepatitis B; blood donors; liver diseases; referral and consultation; consensus