title: Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Infection among Laboratory Health Care Workers in Isfahan, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical laboratory health care workers can become infected through their occupation with blood-borne pathogens by percutanous injuries and mucocutaneous blood contacts such as cuts, needle sticks, splashes to mucous membranes or other body injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of, Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and some of the risk factors in medical laboratory health care workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a descriptive cross sectional study, 203 participants employed in the clinical laboratories of the city of Isfahan, composed of medical laboratory technologists, technicians and cleaning staff were studied. Participant data were obtained through a self-reporting questionnaire and the level of anti-HCV antibody was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chi-square test was used to determine risk factors associated with infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the individuals (n = 203) was 35.8 ± 9.54 years. There were 115 women (56.7%) and 88 men (43.3%). All of the subjects were negative for HCV Ab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis C infection is infrequent in laboratory health care workers in Isfahan province.
authors: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Parisa
authors: P
authors: Shoaei
authors: Noushin
authors: N
authors: Lotfi
authors: Razieh
authors: R
authors: Hassannejad
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Yaran
authors: Behrooz
authors: B
authors: Ataei
authors: Nazila
authors: N
authors: Kassaian
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Foroughifar
authors: Peiman
authors: P
authors: Adibi