Prevalence of GBV C/HGV RNA and GBV C/HGV antibodies in French volunteer blood donors: results of a collaborative study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Posttransfusion hepatitis still occurs at an incidence of about 1 in 118,000 for HBV and 1 in 220,000 for HCV. This collaborative study aimed to determine the prevalence of a novel flavivirus, GBV-C/HGV, even though its role in transfusion-associated hepatitis is uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected by PCR using either the Boehringer detection kit or by primers previously described. HGV antibodies were detected by a serological assay from Boehringer. RESULTS: The observed GBV-C/HGV RNA frequency was 3.4%. HGV antibodies occurred in 9.5% of donors. CONCLUSION: In our study, 12. 9% of the donors had been in contact with the GBV-C/HGV virus.