95% of cases"- Harrison 18th/2551"The average time from exposure to seroconversion is 8-9 weeks, and about 90% of patients are anti-HCV-positive within 5 months"- Robbins 7th/895"Prevalence of hepatitis : HAV (Worldwide), HBV (Worldwide), HCV (Probably worldwide), HDV (Endemic area) & HEV (Only developing countries- India, Asia, Africa, and Central America)"- Ananthanarayan 8th/547(Table)"The B hepatitis is the most widespread & the most important type of viral hepatitis Ananthanarayan 8th/538HCV GENOTYPE Greenwood Microbiology 16th/508There are six main genotypes(l-6) & a no. of commoner subtypes (a, b, c)1b:Commonest genotype worldwide. Older age group, risk factors generally ill-defined2a,b,c:Foundpredominan tly in older HCV-infected individuals from Mediterranean countries & far east3a: Widely distributed in intravenous drug users, particularly from Europe">