Seroprevalence of Anti-HCV in Non-Professional Blood Donors

This study was conducted in Blood Bank, DHQ Hospital Sargodha, to assess the prevalence of Anti HCV in non-professional blood donors. 100 non-professional blood donors visiting DHQ hospital Sargodha to donate blood to their relatives (patients) were screened for Anti HCV Antibodies. Out of 100 healthy blood donors, 12 were found reactive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibodies with a prevalence rate of 12%. Various risk factors were also studied which indicated that 75% of donors had h/o I/V injection/drip and nail cutter sharing, 70% had h/o shaving from barbers while 33% had h/o razor sharing, needle stick accident and extraction dental procedure and only 8% had h/o sexual promiscuity or ear/nose piercing. 12% prevalence rate indicates an increased prevalence in the blood donors in Sargodha as compared to usual prevalence rate of 3% worldwide. Preventive strategies should be adopted for Hepatitis C which is a major viral health problem in Pakistan.