Description
HCV is a single-stranded RNA virus containing a linear genome with a length of about 9,600 nucleotides with positive polarity.
It is now recognized that HCV infection is the major etiological agent of post transfusion hepatitis type non-A, non-B. HCV
infection frequently progresses to chronic liver disease. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, HCV has been grouped into six
major genotypes, each of which contains one or more subtypes. The distribution of HCV genotypes varies in different
geographical areas.
