Increased viral testing of potential organ donors at high risk of HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B infection could help expand the donor pool and cut transplant waiting lists, a landmark Australian study suggests.

The systematic review and meta-analysis, published in the MJA, also provide the first Australian-based estimates of the residual risk of infection in groups at increased risk but with negative viral test results.

The University of Sydney-led team reviewed estimates of HIV, HCV and HBV incidence or prevalence in 89 samples of people at increased risk of infection to determine the residual risk of infection in the window period of potential exposure and testing.

These risk groups include injecting drug-users, men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, people with a history of imprisonment, people with partners considered high risk, and those with percutaneous exposure to blood-borne virus-infected blood.