Testing for hepatitis B virus core antigen and e antigen may confer additional safety of donors′ blood negative for heptitis B virus surface antigen

[...]the current study, performed at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Malaysia, was carried out to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc, HBeAg, and anti-HBe among blood donors negative for HBsAg to detect potentially infectious blood units, and to help in deciding whether supplemental testing may result in additional safety to blood products.