Real Time PCR Based Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Major Genotypes in Chronic HCV Patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been classified into seven major and more than 100 quasi species. To treat hepatitis C patients, it is important to determine the type of HCV as it has been linked with treatment duration and outcome. Objectives: The objective of the study was to find out HCV major genotypes using Taqman Probe based real time PCR assay and to compare prevalence of these with previous HCV genotype distribution using other methods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methods: In this study, 100 actively infected patients were selected, referred by different physicians, and genotyping was done using Sacace real time PCR based assay. Results: Among 100 patients, the most abundant major genotype was HCV 3, followed by genotype 1 and the untypable while genotype 2 was scarcely found. Conclusions: The existing methodology confirmed the prevalence of major genotype 3, similar to that of previous methodologies and studies, however, with a slight shift of genotype 2 distribution.