Hepatitis C genotypes in Finland determined by RFLP

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is important because of its clinical and epidemiological implications. We report here the distribution of HCV genotypes in various patient groups in Finland using a rapid and reliable HCV typing method based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the amplified DNA from the 5' non-coding region of the genome. The reaction product from the primary, diagnostic PCR (nested, one tube system) was used in genotyping. From 264 Finnish sera we identified HCV genotypes la (14%), 1b (24%), 2b (20%), 3a (41%) and 1a + Ib (1%). Only one patient with genotype 2a was identified. From four Egyptian blood donors, types Ib and 4 were found. Genotype 3a was more often associated with i.v. drug abuse and younger age profile (less than 30 years).