[Low concentrations of hepatitis C virus RNA in serologically mild infection.]

Occult HCV infection (OCI) provides significant interest recently. HCV RNA in this case can be detected not in plasma, but in blood cells and/or in liver tissue. In case of antibody genesis impairment anti-HCV detection may lead to negative or "uncertain" result. The aim of the study was to estimate infection type in blood donors and patients with hematological diseases by exploration of samples with uncertain anti-HCV detection results. Blood samples of 30 180 potential blood donors' and 4322 patients with hematological diseases were tested. Comparative analysis of wide pattern of HCV markers was performed. 33 blood donors and 42 patients were enrolled in follow-up examination. Uncertain results of Anti-HCV detection in donors' samples were in 0.18% of cases. Follow-up examination of 33 donors provided discordant results using immunochemiluminescence assay and ELISA. 15.2% donors' samples contained HCV RNA in low concentration. Follow-up observation of 42 patients with incomplete antiviral antibody pattern showed HCV RNA presence in 40.5% cases (21.4% high viremia and 19.0% low viremia). Samples with low RNA concentration contained low titers of anti-core antibodies. Samples with high titers of anti-core antibodies contained high HCV RNA level. Uncertain results of anti-HCV in 15.2% of potential blood donors' samples were confirmed by detection of HCV RNA in low concentration. It proved OCI presence in these individuals and called for testing for wide pattern of HCV markers in addition to routine screening. Patients with hematological diseases showed low level of HCV RNA along with low titers of antibodies against one or two viral antigens.

[Impact of current approaches to laboratory screening of donated blood and its components on hepatitis B virus infection in patients with blood system diseases]. / Vliianie sovremennykh podkhodov k laboratornomu obsledovaniiu donorov krovi i ee komponentov na infitsirovannost' virusom gepatita V u bol'nykh s zabolevaniiami sistemy krovi.

AIM: To evaluate the detection rate of markers for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the blood samples taken from patients with blood system diseases, by applying the current approaches to examining donated blood and its components for markers of viral infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation included blood samples from patients with blood system diseases (n=364) and donors (n=5,011). The results of laboratory screening of donated blood samples (n=13,081) were retrospectively analyzed. Commercial kits of reagents were used for immunochemical assay and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Patients with blood system diseases were recorded to have markers of active HBV infection in 12.6% of cases, anti-HBc in 31.3%, and anti-HBs in 37.6%. A retrospective analysis of the results of screening donated blood samples showed the presence of markers for active HBV infection in 0.28% of cases. A prospective examination of blood donors revealed markers of HBV infection in 4.83% of cases, including those of active forms in 0.54% and anti-HBc in 4.79%. The markers of active HBV infection in donors were only anti-HBc IgM in 0.42% of cases. The blood samples from donors with an anti-HBs titer of >200 mIU/ml contained anti-HBc IgM in 10.5%. CONCLUSION: In the last 5-7 years, the detection rate of markers of HBV infection in the blood samples of patients with blood system diseases have remained at a high level. Screening for decreed markers fails to identify people with inapparent infections among the donors. Even high anti-HBs concentrations in the donated blood may be a risk for HBV transmission by transfusion to a recipient.

[The screening of donor blood on antibodies to nuclear antigen of hepatitis B virus as a tool of increasing of safety of transfusion for patients with diseases of blood system.]

Despite application of decreed modes of laboratory analysis of components of donors' blood, the risk of infection of recipients with hepatitis B virus continues to be actual. The isolated identification of HBsAg provides no control of all categories of persons infected with hepatitis B virus. The analysis of presence of antibodies to nuclear antigen of hepatitis B virus that are the first out of antiviral ones and are preserved for life, is an expedient technique of screening testing of donor's blood that permits implementing an additional selection of donors. During March 2014 - March 2015, cohort of regular anti-hepatitis B virus negative donors of blood and its components. The testing of blood samples for anti-hepatitis B virus can be recommended as a routine test increasing viral safety of blood transfusions for patients with diseases of blood system.

[The PCR markers of viral infections under chronic gastritis in children].

The extended monitoring (up to 1 year 11 months) of PCR markers was implemented concerning viral infections: cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, simple herpes virus type I and II, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and bacterial infection of Helicobacter pylori in bioassays (blood, biopsy material of mucous coat of stomach and inferior third of esophagus) from children with different types of chronic gastritis. In biological samples from patients with gastritis type A and type A + B DNA of hepatitis B virus (87% and 71% of patients correspondingly) and DNA of Epstein-Barr virus (63% and 67% of patients) were detected with high rate. Under gastritis type B and C these markers were detected significantly rarely (20-36%). Among patients with gastritis type A, B and A + B, the positive results on DNA of cytomegalovirus consisted 13-17%. In patients with gastritis type C DNA of cytomegalovirus was not detected. In any of analyzed samples no DNA of simple herpes virus type I and II was detected. The control of DNA of H. pylori demonstrated its presence in biological materials of 67% and 84% of patients with gastritis type B and A +B. This type of DNA was absent in patients with gastritis type A and C. Under gastritis type A, B and A+B, DNA of Epstein-Barr virus and DNA of hepatitis B virus detected more often in biological materials of mucous coat of stomach (71%-100%) and out of them simultaneously in blood in 33%-60% of examined patients and only in blood up to 29%. DNA of Epstein-Barr virus was detected in leukocytes of peripheral blood and DNA of hepatitis B virus both in plasma and leukocytes of peripheral blood. Under gastritis type C DNA of Epstein-Barr virus was always detected in leukocytes of peripheral blood (in 20% out of these patients simultaneously in biological material) and DNA of hepatitis B virus just as much in blood (plasma and/or leukocytes of peripheral blood) and biological materials. The lower concentrations (less than 700 copies/ml) DNA of hepatitis B virus in most samples were detected in absence of markers of hepatitis B virus. In patients with autoimmune gastritis and in absence of bacterial infection H. pylori (group I) or against its background (group III) PCR-markers of hepatitis B virus and Epstein-Barr virus were detected quite often. The evidence of persistence (in superior sections of digestive organs) of Epstein-Barr virus nad hepatitis B virus is detection of DNA of these viruses under their extended monitoring (up to 1 year 11 months) in biological samples from patients with autoimmune forms of gastritis type A and type A+B.