Hepatitis C virus type I(1a) in northern China

Twenty-four patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody from the Chinese North Western province of Jilin were further analysed by the immunoblot assay-2 (RIBA-2), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for serum HCV RNA detection, and direct sequence-genotyping. Good concordance was found between the original second generation HCV antibody ELISA, RIBA-2, and serum HCV RNA. The occurrence of genotype I (1a), a genotype not previously reported in China, is described in 5(20.8%) of 24 cases, in association with genotypes II(1b) and III(2a) which were found in 16(66.7%) and 3(12.5%) of 24 cases, respectively. Imported blood products were unlikely to be the source of infection with genotype I (1a) but could not be definitively ruled out.