Risks for transmission of hepatitis C virus during artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risks of hepatitis C virus transmission by semen from infected donors.

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Assisted fertility clinic.

PATIENTS: Hepatitis C virus-infected semen donor and recipients of his donations.

INTERVENTION: Testing for hepatitis C virus by serology and polymerase chain reaction.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies and viral RNA.

RESULTS

Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in the semen donation before but not after purification; none of the recipients of the donors samples were found to have antibodies to hepatitis C virus.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatitis C virus RNA can be detected in semen donations from infected donors; purification of donations before insemination significantly reduces the amount of viral RNA in the semen pellet.