Prevalence of anti-HCV Antibodies Among Healthy Asymptomatic Indian Blood Donors and the Current Role of anti-HBc Screening as a Surrogate Marker for HCV Infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections account for a bulk of acute and chronic liver diseases world-wide. Since, both the viruses share similar risk factors and modes of transmission, a combined HBV and HCV infection is frequently encountered especially in the HBV endemic areas. Until lately anti-HBc antibodies were considered as surrogate marker for HCV infection. But with the development of advanced tests for HCV detection the role of anti-HBc in this regard stands uncertain.