[How healthy are our blood donors? Result of a liver screening in voluntary blood donors of Blutspendedienst Innsbruck].

A screening of hepatic function and HBs-antigen, made in 22344 voluntary blood donors in the bloodbank of Innsbruck, gave the following results: 0,33% HBs-AG negative donors were found to have pathological liverfunctiontests. Overweight and alcohol would be established as the most important etiological factors. 0,4% of the donors are carriers of the HBs-antigen. A control examination after 2 years showed a persistence of that antigenemia. Antigen carriers are requested to have regular examinations. Since HBs-AG positive hepatitis is not only transferred by blood and blood-constituents, it would be important to use the same screening methods applied in the blood donor organisation throughout any hospital area, to reduce the incidence of this disease.