Post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis after cardiac surgery. Prospective analysis of donor blood anti-HBc antibody as a predictive indicator of the occurrence of non-A, non-B hepatitis in recipients.

We prospectively studied the incidence of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis in 64 cardiac surgery patients: 4 (6.25%) developed non-A, non-B hepatitis after an incubation period of 4-10 weeks. Units of blood products from donors seropositive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were not associated with a greater risk of non-A, non-B hepatitis in recipients than units from seronegative donors. Our data indicate that donor blood anti-HBc testing is of no value as a screening method to reduce the incidence of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis.