N. Ansari, A. Ahmed, J. Esmail, S. A. Mujeeb.
HCV Serotypes in Karachi: a Liaquat National Hospital Experience.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;52(5):219-20.

This study reports the prevalence of HCV serotypes among HCV positive patients at Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, during the year 2000-2001. A total of 306 clinically suspected hepatitis C patients who were repeatedly reactive for anti-HCV antibodies on Axsym (Abbott Laboratories), were tested for HCV serotypes (Murex Diagnostic, Dartford, UK). Of these 173 (56.5%) were males and 133 (43.4%) females. A total of 255 (83.3%) were typeable and 51(16.6%) were untypeable. Among 255 typeable sera 198 (77.6%) were of type 3, followed by type 1, thirty one (12%), type 6, seven (2.7%), type 2, six (2.3%), type 4, six (2.3%), and type 5 one (0.4%). Six patients (2.3%) had mixed infections. Among six mixed sera three were of type 3 and type 1, two were of type 3 and type 2 and one sera was of type 3 and type 6. Conclusion: HCV type 3 appears to be the most common serotype of HCV infection in the country.

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