This review offers guidance for blood bank staff on handling hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive donors. Essential for early intervention, the CDC advises screening for HCV antibodies and, in some cases, using molecular assays for HCV RNA. Acute infections respond well to interferon therapy, while chronic infections require pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Researchers stress that healthcare settings pose transmission risks to workers, necessitating baseline and follow-up testing, while blood donors should be informed of their HCV status post-screening, with proper counseling and referral guidelines. The review notes that creating an effective HCV vaccine is challenging due to genetic diversity and propagation difficulties, emphasizes regular HCV screening, precise diagnosis, and managing HCV-positive donors, and highlights the ongoing need for vaccine research.

Reference: Gupta E, Bajpai M, Choudhary A. Hepatitis C virus: Screening, diagnosis, and interpretation of laboratory assays. Asian J Transfus Sci. 2014 Jan;8(1):19-25. doi: 10.4103/0973-6247.126683. PMID: 24678168; PMCID: PMC3943138.