Anti-HBc prevalence among Croatian blood donors in a 14-year period (2004–2017): Assessment of trends, risks and need for implementing routine testing

The anti-HBc prevalence over a 14-years period (2004–2017), trends, infectivity, residual risk, and need for testing in blood donors (BD) of the Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine were assessed. Anti-HBc was tested in 19,969 BD serum samples collected in 2004 (N = 7561), 2013 (N = 7318) and 2017 (N = 5090). All serums were initially screened for HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV Ag/Ab, and anti-TP. 2013 and 2017 samples were also tested by ID-NAT....