الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Viral hepatitis is recognized as a major pub I ic health problem in all parts the world. More than 50% of individuals exposed to HCV develop chronic ectioll. Approximately 20% to 30% will develop liver cirrhosis, or atocellular carcinoma.
Hev is generally transmitted by the parenteral route. Well known and mmon modes of transmission involve transfusions and parenteral contact with Dad products. There is a very high prevalence of HCV infection among aividuals who expose to these risk factors.
Methods to identify HCV include a highly sensitive third generation mmunoassay that detects antibodies to structural and 110n structural proteins in iemm. Viremia is detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. The role of HCV infection in acute and chronic liver diseases has recently become apparent because of improved diagnostic techniques and physicians’ awareness 10 the possibility of therapeutic intervention.
This study was done on 230 subjects who were divided into four groups, chronic renal failure group (50 patients), schistosomal group (50 patients) blood aiseases group 50 patients health care workers(50 samples) and apparent healthy persons (30 blood donors) as a control group.
Sera from these patients were subjected to detection of antibodies to HCV lIsing the Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA) test and the detection of viral RNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
The results of this work indicates a close association between HCV infection and exposure to common modes of transmission involve transfusions and / or parenteral contact with blood products in five risk groups. This
Ilship is confirmed by the presence of Hey antibodies in (35.36%) 82 of lested patients. We also found that patients in group of blood diseases have ighest percentage of positive results (68%) followed by schistosomal group J while the group of chronic renal failure have (32%) followed by the of health care workers have (24%) and the control group have the least (10%). Sera from these patients (230) were subjected to lioll of HCV RNA to confirm the previous results. \Ve found HCV viremia 1 (\4.9%) of 148 HCV antibody-negative patients and in 72 (87.8%) of82 antibody-positive patients.
The difference between two tests was highly significant. By calculation, rensitivity of ELISA regarding PCR was (76.6%) its specificity (92.6%) acypercentage (86.1%) and enor percentage was (13.9%).