%0 Journal Article
%T Epidemiological profile of hepatitis C in blood donors at the Uberaba Regional Blood Center
%A Garcia
%A Fernanda Bernadelli
%A Pereira
%A Gilberto de ArašČjo
%A Martins
%A Paulo Roberto Juliano
%A Moraes-Souza
%A Helio
%J Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
%D 2009
%I Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT
%R 10.1590/S0037-86822009000100001
%X the aim of the present study was to outline the serological profile of hepatitis c among blood donors seen at the uberaba regional blood center, hemominas foundation, over the last 14 years. the frequency of hepatitis c was compared between first-time and repeat donors and the epidemiological characteristics of those with positive and indeterminate elisa anti-hcv (third and fourth generation) were analyzed based on the donor histories kept in the archives of the uberaba regional blood center. the serological ineligibility rate was 0.3%, with higher prevalence in the group of first-time donors. we did not find any significant differences regarding age, skin color, marital status or place of residence between eligible and ineligible donors; however, the frequency of positive serology was higher among men. the lower (0.3%) rate of ineligibility due to hepatitis c that was observed at the uberaba regional blood center, in relation to most brazilian blood centers, is probably due to the large number of repeat donors (83.3%). this reinforces the importance of achieving donor commitment for increasing transfusion safety.
%K blood donor
%K serological screening
%K hepatitis c
%K epidemiology.
%U http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0037-86822009000100001&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en