Detection of HCV RNA in saliva of patients with hepatitis C virus infection by using a highly sensitive test.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted primarily by direct percutaneous exposures to blood. Since HCV RNA has been found in saliva, it has been suggested that saliva might also be a source of infection. HCV RNA in saliva from plasma HCV RNA positive patients was tested by a highly sensitive PCR method. HCV RNA was detected in 32 out of 61 saliva specimens (52.4%). No correlation was found between the presence of HCV in saliva and age, sex, identified risk factors for HCV infection, time lapsed since the diagnosis, transaminases and alkaline phosphatase values and stimulated salivary flow. A statistically significant relation between plasma HCV RNA viral load and saliva HCV RNA detection was observed (P<0.001). In conclusion, HCV RNA is often present in saliva of HCV infected patients, with plasma viral load being the only known predictable factor. Further studies on salivary HCV RNA are needed.