Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate the necessity of apheresis platelet specimens tested by NAT as well as its feasibility of synchronous ELISA and NAT. MethodsBlood screening adopts mode of twice ELISA and once NAT. Both Anti-HCV and anti-HIV1/2 were screened by ELISA kits produced by Wantai and Xinchuang, and HBsAg by Kehua and Xinchuang. In addition to ELISA, minipools of 6 NAT was performed to apheresis platelet specimens. Confirmatory tests were done to those positive ELISA but negative NAT specimens. Both confirmatory tests and follow up were complished to negative ELISA but positive NAT specimens and their donors. ResultsSixty-four of 37 496 tested apheresis platelet specimens were positive, among them 12 were both double-ELISA and NAT positive;5 were double-ELISA positive but NAT negative;4 were both single ELISA and NAT positive;20 were single ELISA positive but NAT negative;23 were ELISA negative but NAT positive. Six samples with positive ELISA and negative NAT were confirmed to be positive, out of which 4 were double-ELISA positive and 2 were singleELISA positive. In 23 donors of negative ELISA but positive NAT, 22 were confirmed to have latent HBV infection and one was in HBV window period. ConclusionsELISA and NAT are complementary and may effectively reduce the risk of transfusion infection. The simultaneous tests of ELISA and NAT are feasible and may minimize the detection time.

Key words: Apheresis, platelet, Minipools, NAT, ELISA