We have been observing a surge in hepatitis infection in Northern part of the most populated developing country in Africa ,due to high rate of blood donation among low cadre of the population,High Blood transfusion rates as a result of anemia from malnutrition and malaria.Hepatitis virus,HIV and Hep C have latent periods and incubation time therefore are not detectable by routine serology use in blood a screening methods in very early infections among blood donors. .Can PCR test play any role which is not easily available? Any clinical trial for PCR as routine screening test.?
a high cost of molecular technique become a problem of diagnosis of many diseases if there is available test difficult to construct in routine transfusion test/ because blood not payable in the most country
Basically yes, nucleic acid testing (NAT testing) is now considered the gold standard for the testing of blood obtained from blood donors for viral infection in many blood banks around the world. These other researchers on RG have added this report from India -
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236092721_Nucleic_acid_testing_for_blood_banks_An_experience_from_a_tertiary_care_centre_in_New_Delhi_India
In addition NAT testing has now been incorporated into the protocols for the assessment of potential organ donors in a number of countries as well.
Article Nucleic acid testing for blood banks: An experience from a t...
I think NAT testing is essential for screening blood units in blood banks for preventing TTI.
Repeat voluntary blood donors are always the back bone for safe blood supply for any country. Along with that high sensitivity and specificity serology (ELISA/CLIA) testing for screening of blood is a mandatory requirement in most of the countries across the world. NAT or Molecular testing is considered an additional layer of safety after improving the donor base and serology at a blood center.
Serology detects the Antigen and/or Antibody where as NAT will detect the nucleic acid of the virus hence both of these technologies are not replaceable to each other. There is a high incidence of serology positive and NAT negative results when screening of donors (reported from India) hence both of the technologies are mutually exclusive from each other.
It will be worthwhile in your case to conduct a look back study of new incidences of Transfusion associated hepatitis to track the donors. This could help you to evaluate that where they truly missed on serology (either due to window period or poor quality of kits) or they were purely serology negative and NAT reactive (NAT yields).
This might help you to better evaluate that you require better serology with NAT or not.
regards
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