Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39975699›Full record

ReviewEClinicalMedicine2025

Occult hepatitis B virus infection: risk for a blood supply, but how about individuals' health?

Michael X Fu, Ahmed Elsharkawy, Brendan Healy, Celia Jackson, Daniel Bradshaw, Emma Watkins, Ines Ushiro-Lumb, Jaisi Griffiths, James Neuberger, Kathryn Maguire and 8 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in EClinicalMedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Occult hepatitis B virus infection.Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Michael X FuNuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Ahmed ElsharkawyLiver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Brendan HealyPublic Health Wales and Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, UK.
Celia JacksonWest of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow, UK.
Daniel BradshawVirus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
Emma WatkinsClinical Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, Birmingham, UK.
Ines Ushiro-LumbMicrobiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, Colindale, UK.
Jaisi GriffithsWales Specialist Virology Centre, Cardiff, UK.
James NeubergerLiver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Kathryn MaguireNorthern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Belfast, UK.
Monica DesaiBlood Safety, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK.
Neil McDougallThe Liver Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK.
Nicole PriddeeDonor Services Division, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, UK.
Stephen T BarclayDepartment of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Stuart BlackmoreWelsh Blood Service, Pontyclun, UK.
Peter SimmondsNuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
William L IrvingNIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Heli HarvalaMicrobiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, Colindale, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The implementation of effective blood donation screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) anti-core antibodies with highly sensitive molecular HBV DNA detection in low-endemic countries like the United Kingdom has improved blood safety. However, the linkage to care and management for blood donors with occult HBV infection (OBI) is a complex dilemma involving virological, clinical, methodological, and social issues. Limited evidence suggests that OBI may accelerate the progression of liver disease and cancer. The need for a specialist referral for donors identified with OBI carries mixed opinions from blood establishments, hepatologists, and public health. Following extensive multidisciplinary discussions, experts agree upon a need for clear messaging for donors and to consider the oncogenic implications of OBI. Proposals for future studies are identified, and the applicability of the recommendations in low-resource, high-endemic regions is considered, as well as the inclusion of OBI in global hepatitis elimination targets.

Indexed as

Blood donorsConsensusHepatitis BLiver diseasesReferral and consultation

Identifiers

PMID39975699
PMCPMC11836515

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.