Consideration of Appropriateness of Application of Immunoblot Assay as a Reentry Test for HCV or HIV Screening Reactive Donors

Kang, Jae Won; Youn, Kyoung Won; Seo, Jong Hyun; Seo, Young Ik; Park, Soojin

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Currently, serological assay, immunoblotting, and nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) are required as reentry tests for deferred donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening reactive result. However, immunoblotting must be performed even for serological nonreactive donors. In this study, the efficacy of immunoblot applications for serological nonreactive donors in donor reentry procedures was examined.
METHODS
We analyzed non-qualified donors with immunoblot results from 2011 to 2015 in Korea and investigated reentry procedures related with HCV or HIV in other countries.
RESULTS
Percentages of donors who could not be released due to immunoblot results even with serological nonreactive results were 54.2% (1,824/3,367) for HCV and 35.9% (4,300/11,964). In the case of 662 donors, their results were considered to be different using other assay kits or based on other criteria. In other countries, immunoblotting is not required as a donor reentry test.
CONCLUSION
Indeterminate or reactive immunoblotting results in serological nonreactive donors were due to nonspecific reactions. It is not reasonable to apply immunoblotting to serological nonreactive donors. Therefore, we suggest that immunoblot assays be excluded from the reentry test.