Prevalence of seromarkers of HBV and HCV among blood donors in eastern Saudi Arabia, 1998-2001

The prevalence of serological markers of HBV and HCV were determined for blood donors in eastern Saudi Arabia. Between 1998 and 2001. 13 443 donors (10 778 Saudi and 2665 non-Saudi), were screened for HBsAg, anti-HBc Ab, and anti-HCV Ab using commercial kits. There was a steady decrease in the HBsAg (2.58 and 1.67%), anti-HBc rates (15.32 and 9.15%), and anti-HCV (1.04 and 0.59%) rates between 1998 and 2001. respectively. However, there was a marked difference between Saudi and non-Saudi donors with regard to anti-HBc (P < 0.001) and anti-HCV (P < 0.01), but not HBsAg prevalence rates in the same time period.