A Long-Term Study of Hepatitis C Virus Replication in Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis

THE genome of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the etiologic agent of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis, was recently identified, and the products of viral genes were expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. 1 Infection with HCV is routinely diagnosed by identifying in serum specific antibodies to these expressed proteins. 2 Several studies have shown a clear association between the presence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. 3 4 5 6 7 However, antibody testing cannot determine whether a patient with anti-HCV has recovered from the infection or is still carrying the virus and is potentially infectious. In addition, anti-HCV often appears late after . . .