• Muhammad Umer Khan, Haleema Sadia, Asma Irshad, Atif Amin Baig, Sana Ashiq, Beenish Zahid, Rozeena Sheikh, Sadia Roshan, Azam Ali, Shazia Shamas, Munir Ahmed Bhinder, and Rais Ahmad.
• Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
• Afr Health Sci. 2020 Sep 1; 20 (3): 114311521143-1152.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered as "Viral Time Bomb" suggested by the World Health Organization and if it is not treated timely, it will lead towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).ObjectiveThe purpose of the present research is to study possible risk factors, frequent genotypes of HCV and its association with different age groups.MethodsSuspected blood samples from HCV patients were collected from different hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Out of 1000 HCV suspected samples, 920 samples were found HCV positive detected by Anti-HCV ELISA, CobasR. kit. The quantification of HCV load was determined by HCV quantification kit and LINEAR ARRAY KIT (Roche) was used for genotype determination by Real-Time PCR (ABI). Statistical analysis was done by using Microsoft Excel.ResultsOut of 920 subjects, 77 subjects (8.4%) were false positive and they were not detected by nested PCR. Three PCR positive samples were untypeable. Genotype 3 was predominant in Lahore which was 83.5%, whereas type 1 and 2 were 5.1% and 0.7% respectively. There were also mixed genotypes detected, 1 and 3 were 0.4%, 2 and 3 were 1.41% and 3 and 4 were 0.2% only. Male were more infected of HCV in the age <40 years and females >40years.ConclusionThe major risk factor for HCV transmission is by use of unsterilized razors/blades. It is necessary to spread awareness among the general population of Pakistan about HCV transmission risk factors. Regular physical examination at least once a year is recommended, so that early detection of HCV could be done.© 2020 Khan MU et al.

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