Serum hepatitis detectable

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32560, 20 March 1971, Page 18

Serum hepatitis detectable

The recent development of testing for serum hepatitis was described as a tremendous step forward for bloodtransfusion services by three doctors who attended a symposium held by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, in Christchurch yesterday. Jaundice is the only obvious symptom of serum hepatitis, a long and uncomfortable illness which can sometimes cause death. The recently developed “Australian antigen test” now enables the antigen causing serum hepati-

tis to be detected and the carrier of the antigen, who might otherwise be quite healthy, to be recognised. Blood-donors will still be asked if they have had jaundice but the antigen test will be carried out also. It is only in the last six months that the major metropolitan centres have been able to carry out such tests. It was recently established that one pint in every 200 pints of blood given through the transfusion services contained the antigen. This became serious when large quantities of blood were used by heart-surgery and renal dialysis units.

The gastroenterologist for the Auckland Hospital Board (Dr G. I. Nicholson) said that one-tenth of the patients who had undergone by-pass heart surgery developed jaundice due to serum hepatitis.

In the kidney unit the problem had been particularly acute for those who had been put on the artificial kidney, Dr P. B. Doak, the renal physician for the Auckland Hospital Board said; most patients contracted serum hepatitis. Dr P. B. Booth, the immunohaematologist for the North Canterbury Hospital Board, said it seemed probable that a careful testing of blood donors would reduce but not completely eliminate the problem of transmitting the antigen.