Comparison of demographic and virological data of serum RT-PCR positive and negative patients, all of whom have persistent infection
| Host or virus parameter | Serum RT-PCR negative | Serum RT-PCR positive | p Value |
| Age (y) | 35.2 (6) | 37.8 (8) | NS |
| Sex (M/F) | 7/3 | 61/25 | NS |
| Mode of infection | 6 IVDA; 1 post-transfusion; 1 haemophiliac; 2 sporadic | 51 IVDA; 9 post-transfusion; 2 haemophiliac; 24 sporadic | NS |
| Duration of infection (median (range)) | 16 (8–22) | 12 (4–42) | NS |
| Alcohol | 2 | 13 | NS |
| HIV | 0 | 3 | NS |
| Hepatitis B virus | 0 | 1 | NS |
| Normal ALT | 7 | 8 | <0.001 |
| Disease state | 1 Cirrhosis; 9 chronic hepatitis | 9 Cirrhosis; 77 chronic hepatitis | NS |
| Histological activity index | 6 (1–13) | 8 (1–14) | NS |
| Riba-3 bands | 9 Present (>2 bands); 1 ind | – | NS |
| HCV genotype | 4 Genotype 1; 1 genotype 2; 4 genotype 3; 1 genotype 4 | 37 Genotype 1; 11 genotype 2; 32 genotype 3; 6 genotype 4 | NS |