RESUMO
To determine the frequency of hepatitis-C virus infection in blood donors. Material and methods:-This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at blood bank of Nishtar Hospital. Multan during the period from July 2002 to September 2002. One thousand blood donor fulfilling the criteria of blood donation coming to the blood bank of Nishlar Hospital. Multan were included. They were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by immunochromatography technique. This was a descriptive study. After asking name, age. marital status, address. their hemoglobin and blood groups were checked and try asked about the history of transfusion. visit to dentist. sharing razor. present or past jaundice drug abuse. jaundice and carcinoma of liver in the family or any history of surgery. Out of 1000 blood donors, 940 [94%] were males and 60 [6%] females and the anti-HCV positive blood donors were 38 [3.8%]. Among anti-HCV positive blood donors 36 [3.8%] were males and 2 [3.3%] were females. There was no significant difference in different sex and age groups in acquiring HCV infection. Out of 38 anti-HCV positive blood donors. not even a single blood donor had Rh-negative blood group. History of different risk factors was present in 289 [28.9%] blood donors. 18 [1.8%] who had history of blood transfusion. 5 [27.8%] were positive for anti-HCV. The frequency of HCV infection in blood donors this region of Punjab is 3.8% which is relatively high. Highest incidence is found in age group 30-45 years [55.2%] and in married women [4.4%]