The identification and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus antibodies and hepatitis B virus antigens in corneal donors.

Forty eye banks responded to an Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) questionnaire concerning screening patients at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis B. Respondents accounted for 26% (8787 of 33,500) of the total volume of eyes donated in North America in 1986. Sixty (0.68%) of 8787 donors were found to be antibody positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 69 (1.33%) of 5187 donors were found to be positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV). The age, cause of death, and source of tissue were also studied. The finding of seropositivity for HIV in very young and elderly donors without identified risk factors underscores the need to screen all potential cornea donors for the presence of HIV antibodies. The data on HBV lend further support to the importance of such screening procedures.