1058 INSULIN RESISTANCE: A MAJOR PREDICTOR OF SIGNIFICANT LIVER FIBROSIS IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH GENOTYPE 4 CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

= 0.95; P < 0.001). HCV RNA was not quantified in two DBS samples from patients with low viremia (<1000 IU/ml). HCV genotyping was successfully performed on DBS samples, with a full concordance between the paired DBS and serum samples (genotypes 1–4). Conclusion: This study presents DBS as a reliable alternative to serum specimens for quantifying and genotyping HCV RNA. DBS may increase the opportunities for HCV testing and treatment follow-up in high-risk population.