Hepatitis‐Associated Antigen and Antibody in Swedish Blood Donors: Relation to Liver Disease¹

Screening of sera from 11,100 blood donors with an immunodiffusion method showed the presence of hepatitis‐associated antigen (HAA) in 0.18% of the donors, and anti‐HAA antibodies likewise in 0.18% of the donors. The antigen was found more often in men, while antibodies were demonstrated at a higher frequency in women. HAA was not found in any of the oldest donors (48–60 years), but anti‐HAA antibodies were demonstrated in 0.31% of the oldest donors. The noted differences, however, were not statistically significant. 25 donors with HAA and 15 with antibodies were followed 4–12 months. Most of the HAA‐positive donors (92%) had demonstrable antigen during the entire follow‐up period, and some of these chronic antigen carriers (17%) had histopathological or biochemical signs of chronic liver disease. Presence of anti‐HAA antibodies in serum was not associated with biochemical or histopathological abnormalities.