Clinical value of the guanase screening test in donor blood for prevention of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis

We adopted an automated method for measuring guanase in donor blood and examined the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis when donor blood with high guanase activities was excluded. Sixty-seven (2.4%) of 2,826 units were excluded from use in transfusion because they had guanase activities above 1.71 units per liter. Of 112 recipients, 8 (7%) developed posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. The incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was 17% before adoption of the guanase screening test and 7% after its adoption. Thus, the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly decreased after adoption of this screening test. This study shows that, for prevention of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis, it is important to screen donor blood for guanase activity and discard blood with high activities.