Table 2. Advantages and limitations of using blood center derived HCV positive samples for large-scale genetic studies.

Advantages Systematic screening of a cross-section of the society for HCV prevalence Large pool of first-time (FT) donors infected with HCV Donor samples give relevant information on age, gender, ethnicity and infectious disease screening results HCV routine testing using NAT, EIA and RIBA help identify HCV disease outcomes such as acute, spontaneously cleared and chronically infected individuals Routine blood donor screening also tests for HIV allowing the removal of these samples from genetic studies if necessary HCV treatment-induced clearance or treatment failure can be studied with a new IRB approval in a separate study that is designed as a follow-up study of FT donors screened by blood centers

Limitations Only a snap shot of HCV infection Future recalls will require IRB approval HCV treatment-induced clearance or treatment failure cannot be studied without new IRB approval and a renewed source of funding