Detection of Hepatitis C Virus RNA by Semiquantitative Reverse-Transcription PCR

The human hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus discovered in 1989 that accounts for the majority of posttransfusion and sporadic non-A non-B hepatitis. More than half of patients with acute HCV infection develop a chronic course that is associated with a high risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepa-tocellular carcinoma.