Hepatitis C risk in sexual partners.

A meeting on HIV RNA measurement included a discussion on hepatitis C virus (HCV), the issue of accepting blood donations from persons whose sexual partners are HCV seropositive, and the question of whether or not HCV infection is sexually transmitted. Research indicates the efficiency of sexual transmission of HCV is generally low when sexual activity alone is the transmission route. Overall, the question of sexual transmission of HCV still remains unanswered and the issue of blood donation by sexual partners of HCV-seropositive persons is still being considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Canada compensates citizens with HCV acquired through blood transfusion or use of plasma products, a practice not done in the United States.