Dissecting the decline of hepatitis C in first-time donors in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rate of confirmed hepatitis C virus (HCV) cases, in first-time donors, is much lower in 2015 than 20 years ago. We investigate reasons for the decline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: HCV rates were analysed by gender and birth cohort for 1996 to 2015 and ethnic group for 2006 to 2015. Variables for confirmed positive cases were compared for two ten-year periods (1996 to 2005 and 2006 to 2015) including genotyping data for 2006 to 2015.

RESULTS: There were 2007 confirmed HCV cases identified between 1996 and 2015. The rate per 100 000 donations fell from 78·6 in 1996 to 26·9 by 2015. By birth cohort, HCV rates were highest in donors born in the 1950s and 1960s who contributed a decreasing proportion of first-time donors. Between 2006 and 2015, there was no significant decline in HCV rate. The HCV-positive donor profile has changed in the last 10 years with increased proportions of younger donors, donors born abroad and decreased reported injecting drug use. Genotype 1a remains predominate, but genotype 1b has increased associated with this change in birth cohort and ethnicity.

CONCLUSION: The decline in number and rate of confirmed HCV-positive first-time donors is mainly due to a decrease in first-time donors born before 1970, with the highest rate of HCV. However, the decline has slowed and the profile of HCV-positive first-time donors is changing. A better understanding of behaviour and sources of HCV in younger and ethnic minority donors are needed.