[Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA in amniotic fluid of gravida infected by hepatitis C virus]

To detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in amniotic fluid of gravida and investigate mother-to-infant transmission of HCV.Thirty-four HCV seropositive gravida (experimental group) were engaged. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on amplisensor assay and reverse transcription -PCR (RT-nPCR) was used. Serum HCV RNA positive sera were genotyped by RFLP analysis of PCR products from 5'NC region. Sera and amniotic fluid samples of 40 normal gravida were set as the control group.In the experimental group, HCV RNA was detected in amniotic fluid (5.9%, 2/34) of 2 cases. HCV RNA titers were 10(5) and 10(6) copy/ml respectively. No HCV RNA was detected in the amniotic fluid and sera of the control (n = 40).HCV RNA was rarely detected in amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid is not the main route of HCV mother-to-infant transmission.