HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV)

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a single-stranded RNA virus related to the flavivirus family and was previously known as the parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). It becomes chronic in about 50% of cases. HCV is mainly transmitted through intravenous drug use, sexual contact, and household exposure. The development of recombinant peptides from HCV C DNA has enabled effective antibody screening, allowing for the identification of infected yet asymptomatic blood donors, thereby reducing the risk of virus transmission.