en ميکروب شناسي Microbiology <div><strong>ABSTRACT</strong><br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Background and Objectives</strong><strong><span dir="RTL">:</span></strong> Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is necessary for the prevention and treatment of a variety of life-threatening injuries and diseases. However, viral contamination of these products is a great threat to recipients. Screening donors for GB virus C by nucleic acid testing is not routinely implemented worldwide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate prevalence of GBV-C RNA in whole blood/red cell components.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross sectional pilot study, we collected 153 units of packed RBCs from blood banks of two public hospitals in Gorgan (northeast of Iran), between October and November 2014. The samples were screened for the presence of GBV-C RNA in plasma by nested RT-PCR using specific primers targeting highly conserved regions of 5&#39; UTR of GBV-C. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). <span dir="RTL"></span><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Results:</strong> Overall, 48 (31.37%) whole blood or red cell components were positive for GBV-C viremia. The GBV-C RNA was detected in 31/88 citrate phosphate dextrose-adenine 1 (CPDA1) RBC, 16/50 washed RBC and 1/13 reduced-leukocyte RBC. However, whole blood CPDA1 was negative for GBV-C viremia. Direct sequencing of PCR products confirmed GBV-C contamination.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Transmission of GBV-C infection was observed in blood products. Thus, efforts should be made to develop new strategies for assuring blood transfusion safety.<span dir="RTL"></span><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Keywords: </strong>Molecular testing<strong>, </strong>Epidemiology<strong>, </strong>Transfusion-transmissible infections, GB Virus C.</div> Molecular testing, Epidemiology, Transfusion-transmissible infections, GB Virus C. 26 31 http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-623-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mishar Kelishadi kelishady@yahoo.com 100319475328460016383 100319475328460016383 No Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran- Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Pezhman Hashemi bahramimehdi56@gmail.com 100319475328460016384 100319475328460016384 No Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Microbiology، Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran G.Hossein Ashrafi 100319475328460016385 100319475328460016385 No Kingston University London, Cancer Theme, School of Life Science, Pharmacy and Chemistry, SEC Faculty, Kingston upon Thames, KT12EE, London, UK Naser Behnampour behnampournaser98@gmail.com 100319475328460016386 100319475328460016386 No Department of Statistic, Paramedical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Alijan Tabarraei alijant@yahoo.com 100319475328460016387 100319475328460016387 Yes Infectious diseases research centre, Department of microbiology, Golestan University of