Incidence of Latent Hepatic Diseases in Blood Donors: Possible Relation to Carrier State of Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

A total of 3655 ostensibly healthy blood donors was studied by means of a group of hepatic tests that are commonly abnormal in viral hepatitis. By an evaluation of the results of the tests based on an arbitrary point-scoring system, nearly 30% of the donors were classified as abnormal. In about 17%, the findings deviated only moderately from limits established in healthy persons, and these were regarded as equivocal. The remaining 12% showed abnormalities equalling in severity those found in moderate hepatic disease. The test most commonly abnormal was the thymol turbidity test, which was classified as equivocal in 9.1% and as positive in 6.6%. There is evidence that some, but not all, asymptomatic carriers of the virus of hepatitis will be rejected as blood donors by a screening regimen with hepatic tests.