The novel KIR2DL4*038 allele identified by sequencing-based typing in a Chinese Naxi individual.

The novel KIR2DL4*038 allele differs from the closest allele KIR2DL4*00102 by a single missense mutation.

Risk factors for hepatitis B and C infection among blood donors in five Chinese blood centers.

Background: Few studies were conducted on hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV, respectively) risk factors among Chinese blood donors in recent years since voluntary donors replaced commercial donors.

Study Design And Methods: A case-control survey was conducted in HBV- or HCV-positive and -negative donors from five blood centers in China between September 2009 and April 2011. Case status was defined by having a reactive result on Monolisa HBsAg Ultra (Bio-Rad) for HBV and Ortho anti-HCV EIA 3.

The persistence of hepatitis C virus transmission risk in China despite serologic screening of blood donations.

Background: A total of 2%-2.9% of the population in China is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study estimated the prevalence and incidence of HCV among Chinese blood donors.

An analysis of risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection among Chinese blood donors.

Background: Information regarding the risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among Chinese donors is important for understanding the trend of HIV transmission routes and for developing effective donor behavioral screening policies.

Study Design And Methods: In 2009 to 2011, a total of 77 HIV-positive and 649 HIV-negative consented donors who screened nonreactive for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, syphilis, and alanine aminotransferase in four Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study-II Chinese regions received and completed a questionnaire by mail regarding their recent and past medical procedures, drug use, and sexual behaviors, etc. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses grouped questions into three risk factors.

Prevalence, incidence, and residual risks for transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus Types 1 and 2 infection among Chinese blood donors.

Background: There are little data on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, incidence, or residual risks for transfusion-transmitted HIV infection among Chinese blood donors.

Study Design And Methods: Donations from five Chinese blood centers in 2008 to 2010 were screened using two rounds of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-HIV-1/2. A reactive result in either or both rounds led to Western blot confirmatory testing.

Demographics of apheresis platelet donors in five blood centers in China.

Background: Blood component donations by apheresis has become more common in modern blood transfusion practices. However, apheresis donation still remains less common in China. This study describes the demographic profile and transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among donors making apheresis platelet (AP) donations compared to those making whole blood (WB) donations and the differences among five geographically diverse blood centers in China.

Hepatitis B virus nucleic acid testing in Chinese blood donors with normal and elevated alanine aminotransferase.

Background: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) is currently not a routine donor test in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current residual risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and the value of ALT testing in preventing HBV infection.

Study Design And Methods: From January 2008 to September 2009, a total of 5521 qualified donations by routine screening and 5034 deferred donations due to elevated ALT alone were collected from five blood centers.

The prevalence of human parvovirus B19 DNA and antibodies in blood donors from four Chinese blood centers.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 is a common human pathogen that causes a variety of diseases with outcomes ranging from asymptomatic to severe, especially in immunocompromised patients. The B19 virus can be transmitted via blood and/or blood products and its resistance to common viral inactivation and/or removal methods raises the importance of B19-related blood safety. However, the existence, variation, and loading of B19 in Chinese blood donors have not been determined.

Analysis of Chinese donors' return behavior.

Background: It is important to understand donor return behavior. Converting first-time donors to become repeat donors is essential for maintaining an adequate blood supply.

Study Design And Methods: Characteristics of 241,552 whole blood (WB) donations from first-time and repeat donors who donated in 2008 at the five blood centers in China were compared.

Impact of the May 12, 2008, Earthquake on blood donations across five Chinese blood centers.

Background: On May 12, 2008, a severe earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province. The nationwide outpouring of charity resulted in a surge of subsequent blood donations. The quantity and quality of these donations were examined in comparison with routine donations.

A multi-Chinese blood center study testing serologic-negative donor samples for hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus with nucleic acid testing.

Background: A multi-blood center study was conducted to evaluate a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) multiplex nucleic acid testing (NAT) donor screening test and to determine the residual risk for HIV-1 and HCV infection.

Study Design And Methods: A commercially available HIV-1 and HCV assay (Procleix, Chiron Corp.) was used for simultaneous detection of HIV-1 RNA and HCV RNA on 89,647 unlinked donor samples.

Significance of the signal-to-cutoff ratios of anti-hepatitis C virus enzyme immunoassays in screening of Chinese blood donors.

Background: The correlation between signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratios of a second-generation hepatitis C virus (HCV) enzyme immunoassay (EIA; Abbott) and a third-generation HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Ortho) and confirmed HCV infection has been reported. The utility of the values for the Chinese anti-HCV EIA kits, however, has not been studied in evaluating test results in Chinese blood donors.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 156 donor samples repeat reactive for anti-HCV at routine screening from five representative regions of China were retested for anti-HCV by the Ortho third-generation HCV ELISA and six Chinese EIA kits and for HCV RNA by a human immunodeficiency virus-1 and HCV assay (Procleix, Chiron Corp.