The Frequency of HBsAg in Blood Donors in Tikrit City

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) injection is one orthe major global human health problems. The spectrum of HBV- related disease ranges from acute hepatitis B, asymptomatic HBV carrier, and chronic hepatitis to rarely fulminant hepatitis. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is often used as the serological marker to screen for HBV infection. This study was performed in the central blood bank in Tikrit city for the period from 1st July to 30th April 2002 and included 1300 blood donors to evaluate the prevalence of HBsAg and association of it with the age group and blood group. The study demonstrated that the overall prevalence of HBsAg was 2.6% (34 out of 1300). The highest frequency of HBsAg was tliund in the blood group O, followed by blood group B, AB and blood group A. Most cases of HBsAg accumulated at the age group 30-39 year and the age group 20-29 year.