A simulation model to estimate the risk of transfusion-transmitted arboviral infection.

Background: The arboviruses West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV) and Ross River virus (RRV) have been demonstrated to be blood transfusion-transmissible. A model to estimate the risk of WNV to the blood supply using a Monte Carlo approach has been developed and also applied to Chikungunya virus. Also, a probabilistic model was developed to assess the risk of DENV to blood safety, which was later adapted to RRV.

Replication priority of hepatitis C virus genotype 2a in a Chinese cohort.

HCV genotypes have been documented in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine the replication priority of different HCV genotypes in a Chinese HCV positive cohort. Serum samples from 491 apparently healthy Chinese blood donors testing positive for HCV antibodies and naive to antiviral drug therapy were tested.

Predicting the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen in Chinese patients by pathology data mining.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a pathogen of worldwide health significance, associated with liver disease. A vaccine is available, yet HBV prevalence remains a concern, particularly in developing countries. Pathology laboratories have a primary role in the diagnosis and monitoring of HBV infection, through hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) immunoassay and associated tests.

Two HBV DNA+/HBsAg- blood donors identified by HBV NAT in Shenzhen, China.

Background: In order to further improve blood safety, mini-pool (MP) nucleic acid testing (NAT) was implemented to screen samples negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), syphilis (anti-Treponemal antibody) and with normal ALT.

Study Design And Methods: From August 2006 to February 2008, 41,301 donations were screened using commercial HIV/HCV RNA and HBV DNA Real-Time PCR NAT assays in pools of 8. Reactive pools were re-tested as individual samples using the appropriate screening test and confirmed using an alternate commercial NAT assay.

Theoretically estimated risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome transmission through blood transfusion during an epidemic in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China in 2003.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly recognized infectious disease that caused an outbreak in south China in 2003. The cause of SARS was identified as a novel coronavirus (CoV). The existence of asymptomatic seroconvertors and the detection of the SARS-CoV RNA in plasma during the course of infection all suggest that SARS could, as least theoretically, be transmitted by transfusion.

Residual risk of transfusion-transmitted viral infections in Shenzhen, China, 2001 through 2004.

Background: There are no current estimates of the residual risks of transmission by blood of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China. Such estimates are an essential prerequisite to monitoring and improving transfusion safety as well as supporting evidence based assessment of the value of implementing new screening interventions.

Study Design And Methods: Viral screening data for donors from Shenzhen, China, for the period 2001 to 2004, were retrospectively analyzed.