Serveh babahajian - Blood Transfusion Research Center,High Institute for Research for and Education in Transfusion Medicine,sanandaj,iran.
woria babahajian - Blood Transfusion Research Center,High Institute for Research for and Education in Transfusion Medicine,sanandaj,iran.
bahareh rahimian zarif - islamic azad university branch of sanandaj-department of microbiology-sanandaj.iran.
nashmil dabaghian - student of microbiology Islamic azad university of sanandaj.iran

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection is a form of hepatitis in which despite of absence of detectable HBsAg, HBV-DNA is present in peripheral blood of patients. This clinical form of B hepatitis creates some problems for the Iranian blood transfusion services. Therefore, the aim of this study was the evaluation of status of occult hepatitis B infection in the kurdestan blood donors.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, total of 301 blood donor samples were collected and tested for HBsAg using ELISA. The HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive samples were selected and screened for HBV-DNA using PCR..Results: Results of current study indicated that 18 of 301 blood samples were HBsAg– and anti-HBc+. HBV-DNA wasnot detected in 18 samples.Conclusion:Occult hepatitis B infection is a clinical form of infection HBV.In which case the disease is not detected in the blood HBSAg,Therefore,more sensitive tests for screening blood products for HBV is required.Test anti-HBC is a complementary test to ensure the safety and suitability of blood products are needed.

PCR, HBV, Blood,Transfusion