These tests identify the presence of hepatitis B and C viruses, both of which can lead to liver disease. Positive results often lead to donor deferral.

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are two distinct types of viral hepatitis, which are liver infections caused by different viruses. They share the name “hepatitis” because they both primarily affect the liver, but they have different modes of transmission, characteristics, and treatments.

According to American Blood cross : HBV DNA and HBsAg are the first viral markers to circulate in an individual infected with HBV. Anti-HBc appears in the blood of individuals infected with HBV one to four weeks after the appearance of HBsAg, and at the onset of symptoms for those adults who develop symptoms (5% or less). The tests used for blood donor screening are the GS (Genetic Systems) HBsAg EIA 3.0, a qualitative ELISA for the detection of HBsAg, and the Ortho HBc ELISA for the qualitative detection of antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) in human serum and plasma samples.

Image credit: Hepatitis c by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free