What does the “Five-Item Bloodborne Infectious Disease Test” include?
Feb 18, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Chen Tansheng
Introduction
The “Five-Item Bloodborne Infectious Disease Screening” includes tests for: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C antigen (HCV Ag), hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV), syphilis antibody (anti-TP), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody. These five tests are routinely required prior to clinical blood transfusion and voluntary blood donation, as all these infectious diseases can be transmitted via blood and pose an infection risk to healthy individuals.
As a result of long-term evolution and adaptation, various blood-borne infectious diseases have established relatively fixed transmission relationships with hematophagous insects—for example, Japanese encephalitis and malaria can only be transmitted by mosquitoes. So, what exactly does the “Five-Item Blood-Borne Infectious Disease Screening” entail? Below, we provide a detailed explanation.
What Does the Five-Item Blood-Borne Infectious Disease Screening Include?
The Five-Item Blood-Borne Infectious Disease Screening comprises the following five tests: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C antigen (HCV Ag), hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV), syphilis antibody (anti-treponema), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody.
Clinically, these five tests are mandatory both prior to blood transfusion and before voluntary blood donation. This is because all these infections can be transmitted via blood, posing a risk of infection to healthy recipients. Before transfusion, the recipient must undergo this five-item screening to determine whether they already carry any of these pathogens. If the patient tests positive for any of these markers, it indicates that the infection predates the transfusion and was not acquired through the transfused blood.
Similarly, potential donors must also undergo the same five-item screening before donating blood. A positive result for any one of these tests indicates the presence of the corresponding pathogen in the donor’s body, rendering them ineligible to donate.
Note that fasting is generally not required for the Five-Item Blood-Borne Infectious Disease Screening alone, as food intake typically does not affect the test results. However, if this screening is performed concurrently with other examinations—such as liver ultrasound—fasting is usually recommended to avoid interference with test accuracy.
The above outlines what the Five-Item Blood-Borne Infectious Disease Screening entails. We hope this information is helpful to you.
