The alanine aminotransferase levels were not significantly different in the HGV RNA positive and negative recipients, and none of the 23 recipients developed posttransfusion hepatitis.
The lack of confirmed HBV or HCV infection in this study representing an estimated 47,500 voluntary blood donations suggests that routine ALT testing for further prevention of posttransfusion hepatitis after exclusion of HBV- and/or HCV-seropositive blood may be superfluous.