Test
HCV RNA Quantitative, Real Time PCR
Pathology
Summary
HCV is an RNA virus of the Flavivirus group transmitted in 60% of the cases due to drug abuse. Other modes of transmission seen are following accidental needle punctures in health care workers, dialysis patients and rarely from mother to infant. Sexual transmission accounts for 10% of cases. Chronic infection with HCV occurs in about 85% of infected individuals leading to fibrosis of the liver and Cirrhosis in about 20% of these patients. Risk for Hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with chronic HCV is 1-5% after 20 years.
