Estimate of the risk of post transfusion hepatitis B in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The prevalences of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) were determined in blood donors and transfusion recipients in Jakarta, Indonesia. In blood donors the prevalence of HBsAg was 10% while anti-HBs was 43%. In transfusion recipients the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was 67%. The prevalence of susceptible recipients or those without detectable HBsAg or anti-HBs was 33%. Thus, the probability that a susceptible recipient would receive HBsAg from a blood donor was calculated at 3.3%. Published data from other studies were used to estimate the risk of clinical post transfusion hepatitis in Jakarta at between 0% and 2%.