Detection of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA among YoungAdult Drug Users

A study to determine the frequency and potential risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was carried out on 33 serum samples from drug users; admitted to hospital for treatment. Sera were screened for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 11/33 (33.3%) of drug users versus 2/30 (6.7%) of volunteer blood donors (control group), which represent statistically significant changes (p < 0.001). HCV-RNA was detected by one step nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HCV-RNA was detected in 7/11 (63.6%) of seropositive drug users, all of them were injection drug users. There was significant association of HCV infection with age and injection drug use (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant relation between the duration of drug abuse and HCV infection. From these findings, I conclude that HCV infections are common among injection drug users probably due to the intravenous use of drugs.