الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 121 |  |  |
| | | from | 121 | | |
Abstract
Currently infection by HCV is extensive throughout the world. The global prevalence of HCV carriers is estimated to be about 3% on the average fluctuating from 0.1 to 5% in different countries. (2)
Egypt has a very high prevalence of HCV with a high morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 20% of Egyptian blood donors are anti-HCV positive. Egypt has higher rates of HCV than neighboring countries as well as other countries in the world with comparable socioeconomic conditions and hygienic standards for invasive medical, dental, or paramedical procedures.
Until relatively recently, blood transfusion posed a major risk of HCV infection in developed countries. The introduction in 1990 and 1992 of improved blood-screening measures based on the detection of HCV antibodies has dramatically decreased the risk of transfusion-associated HCV infection. The current risk in the United States from blood that is negative for HCV antibodies is less than 1 in 103,000 transfused units, with the residual risk resulting from blood donations that occur in the interval between infection and the development of detectable antibodies (estimated to be less than 12 weeks).(9)
So for HCV screening of a population of blood donors, the most sensitive test should be chosen to avoid false-negative results. On the contrary, for screening of patients to be treated, false-positive .