Original ArticlesPrevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity among Hospitalized US Veterans

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of acute and chronic hepatitis in the United States and abroad. HCV antibody prevalences ranging from 10 to 90% have been reported in intravenous drug abusers, hemodialysis patients, and persons suffering from other liver diseases, whereas HCV seropositivity rates for volunteer blood donor populations are generally under 1%. However no information has been available concerning the prevalence of HCV in general hospital populations in the United States.