Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus among Out-Patients of a Private Laboratory in Tehran

With an estimated 170 million infected indi viduals, hep atitis c virus (hcy) has a major impact on publ ic health. frequencyof hcy infection was studied in 785 referred patients to a private laboratory, tehran, iran from april 2003 until march2006 by pcr meth od. analyzed results revealed infecti on rate was 40.27%, 35.51% and 33.09% in the first, second andthird year, respectively. frequ ency rate of the infection shows a fluctuated shape during months of three years. maximumrate of the hcy infection was in may of the first and in june of the second and third year, respe ct ively. it shows decreaseand incre ase within rest months in each year. hcy infection rate was higher in 31 to 40 years old group of patients. analysisof the data reve aled higher hcy infection in men than women had. it was concluded that hcy frequency pattern underlinesspecific attention to suspected patients during high rate time .