BOSNIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2006; 6 (4): 13-17

Hepatitis C infection is important global health problem with wide spectrum of health, social and economic consequences. Th e goal of this research was to estimate prevalence of hepa-titis C virus infection in risk groups, and to determine association hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and risk factors. Research included subjects divided in two groups. Test group included subjects divided in subgroups with risk for HCV infection: those who re-ceived blood transfusion without screening on HCV (it was introduced in ) (); in-travenous drug users (); patients on hemodialysis () and health care workers (). Control group included healthy volunteer blood donors. In all subjects anti-HCV anti-bodies were tested with third generation ELISA test. Positive serum samples were tested for presence of HCVRNA, using reaction of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reac-tion. In all anti-HCV positive subjects further epidemiological and clinical workup was per-formed. Prevalence of HCV infection in risk groups was: , in subjects who have received blood transfusions without HCV blood screening, in intravenous drug users, , in patients on chronic dialysis, and . in health care workers. In control group prevalence wa