ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out to find the pattern of genotype distribution of Hepatitis C virus. Twenty-three Hepatitis C virus positive serum samples in various age-groups of both sexes attending, Microbiology Department, RIMS during the period from September 2002 to December 2004 were studied for Hepatitis C genotype. These HCV positive serum samples were sent to National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata. The serum samples were tested for HCV-RNA by qualitative RT-PCR test and then genotyped by type specific RT-PCR. Out of 23 serum samples, 22 were males. All the 23 HCV positive serum samples were also tested positive for HCV-RNA by qualitative RT-PCR. Majority of the cases belonged to the age group of 31-40 years. Higher percentage of Hepatitis C cases were Injecting Drug Users and next to it were patients with multiple sexual contacts. Among the IDUs, Hepatitis C virus 3a type was the commonest genotype (61.1%) followed by 1b (22.2%) and 3b (16.7%) respectively. Hepatitis C genotype 3a was predominant (52.2%) followed by 1b (26%) and 3b (21.8%). HCV genotype 3a occurred most commonly in the age group of 21-40 years.