Results for anti-HCV and HCV RNA between the years of 2004 and 2005 in Southeast Turkey (Diyarbakır)

Background: This study evaluates and presents the results for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV RNA obtained from sera sent to the Microbiology Laboratory of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, the largest health center in the region (Diyarbakir, Turkey), for analysis.Methods: Anti-HCV seropositivity was determined using an anti-HCV EIA and HCV RNA was detected by real time PCR. The Chi square test was used for statistical evaluation of the male and female patients for anti-HCV.Results: In the year 2004, 10640 sera were investigated for anti-HCV seropositivity and 12081 sera were investigated in the year 2005. Anti-HCV seropositivity was 3.6% for the year 2004, and 3.1% for the year 2005. Comparing results between males and females, anti-HCV positivity was found to be significantly different (P< 0.001) for the male patients in both years. HCV RNA positivity was detected by Real Time PCR method in 192 sera out of 670 (28.6%) in the year 2004 and in 206 sera out of 838 (24.6%) in the year 2005. Conclusions: Our region has a higher seropositivity for anti-HCV compared to the other regions in Turkey. For this reason, educational programs should be instituted which emphasize avoidance of high-risk lifestyles and contacts to prevent spreading of HCV in our region. Furthermore, horizontal HCV transmission routes other than blood transfusion and intravenous drug addiction should be taken into consideration epidemiologically