Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis C Antibody Seroprevalence Among Male Blood Donors in Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study at Four Blood Banks

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) pose important challenges to blood safety, highlighting the need for continued surveillance among blood donors. This cross-sectional study assessed the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies among male blood donors at four blood banks in Lahore, Pakistan, and examined their associations with age and ABO/Rh blood group. A total of 600 donors were included, with 150 recruited from each of General Hospital Lahore, Services Hospital Lahore, Noor Thalassaemia Centre, and Zaib Ali Foundation. Serum samples were screened using immunochromatographic rapid tests. Seroprevalence estimates were calculated with 95% Wilson confidence intervals (CIs). Associations with blood group were assessed using chi-square tests, and age distributions were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p < 0.05. HBsAg seroprevalence was 4.8% (29/600; 95% CI, 3.4–6.9%), and anti-HCV seroprevalence was 4.5% (27/600; 95% CI, 3.1–6.5%). B-positive was the most frequent blood group (33.0%). Neither HBsAg nor anti-HCV reactivity was significantly associated with ABO/Rh blood group (χ² = 10.17, p = 0.179 and χ² = 4.16, p = 0.762, respectively). Age distributions did not differ significantly between reactive and nonreactive donors for either marker (p = 0.210 and p = 0.922, respectively). No significant association was observed between HBsAg and anti-HCV reactivity (p = 0.858). Approximately one in twenty donors screened reactive for each marker, underscoring the importance of reliable donor screening, appropriate confirmatory testing, donor counselling and referral. These findings represent screening-marker seroprevalence rather than confirmed active infection and should be interpreted within the limitations of rapid testing and the sampled male donor population.