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# Hepatitis of unknown origin - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Definition/s

  HBV: Hepatitis B Virus

  HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen

  Anti-HBs: Antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen

  Anti-HBc: Antibody against hepatitis B core antigen

### Scenarios

Person with hepatitis of unknown origin

Obligatory

  Must not donate.

Person with previous (recovered) hepatitis of unknown origin

Obligatory

  Must not donate if:

  Less than 24 months from recovery.

Discretionary
  1. If:
     1. It is more than 12 months from recovery, and
     2. A test for anti-HBc will be performed, accept for donation or take samples for testing, as directed by local procedures, accept.
  2. If the donor has undergone previous testing by the Blood Transfusion Service, accept.
  3. If more than 24 months from recovery, accept.
Additional information

  Post-session review of results:

  1. anti-HBc positive donors:
     Must not donate.
  2. If the donor is negative for all HBV markers (HBsAg, screening HBV DNA and anti-HBc, accept.

  Most hepatitis of unknown origin will have been due to hepatitis A or hepatitis E (or non-viral causes).

  Additional testing for those who give a history of hepatitis between 12 and 24 months previously ensures anti-HBc testing is carried out, to exclude hepatitis B infection.

  After 24 months, donation testing for anti-HBc will be carried out routinely, as it will be at least two years since the donor last gave a blood donation or samples for testing by the transfusion service. These guidelines will be revised if policy for anti-HBc testing changes.

Household or sexual contact of person with hepatitis of unknown origin

Obligatory
  1. Must not donate if:
     1. Less than 12 months from last household or sexual contact, or
     2. If ongoing household or sexual contact, less than 12 months from recovery of the sexual or household contact.
  2. If the household or sexual contact is thought to have had hepatitis B infection, refer to the Hepatitis B entry.
See if relevant
  - Hepatitis B
Additional information

  The 12-month deferral period is to avoid transmission of any infection through transfusion.

  There are different rules for contact with someone who has had hepatitis B. These should be followed if the donor reports that a household or sexual contact was most likely to have had hepatitis B.

Reason for change:
  The entry has been updated to use a similar structure to the entry for HBV.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 68 (09 May 2023)

BETA

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