Molecular and Immunological Detection of Hepatitis C Virus infection Among Blood Donors in Al-Muthnana Province- Iraq.

This study was conducted to detect the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donors for the first time in AI-Muthanna province –Iraq, during the period from December 2012 into July 2013.Out of 5179 serum samples of blood donors of their age ranging from 20 to more than 60 year were 20 gave positive results by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in percentage of 0.386%. The results of the study showed that the highest rate of infection was in age group of (31-50) years old with percentage of 35% while the results of seroprevalence of HCV infection in relation to the location of different geographical regions showed that highest infection rate was in Samawa 60% which is significantly different at level (P< 0.05). Reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed for direct and rapid detection of hepatitis C virus infection using one step technique. The condition of viral RNA was designed in exicycler real time PCR system. The results of molecular detection showed that out of 20 seropositive samples 13 were positive for HCV in percentage of 65%. In conclusion HCV was recorded in AI-Muthanna province and RT-PCR technique was reliable, direct and rapid test in combination with serological test.