Finding out about hep C will help you plan for the future. Our Hep C Action Newsletter Program can help guide you through testing and treatment.
What Is a Genotype?
Have you ever had a key copied and found that the new key did not work very well or did not work at all? If so, then you know that even a small difference can be very important. Although the keys may look the same, may be made from the same material, and have the same function, the shape of the new key may not match up as well with the keyhole.
In much the same way, small genetic differences between viruses can make them very different or only slightly different. In the case of hep C, these differences do not change the way the virus affects your body, but they may influence the way the virus responds to treatment.
The hepatitis C virus has 6 major known types (called genotypes). Each type is assigned a number from 1 to 6. Different types are common in different parts of the world. For example, types 1, 2, and 3 are the most common types in North America and Western Europe, Australia, and the Far East. In the United States, type 1 accounts for most cases of hep C.
Your genotype is important because it influences your treatment plan and response to therapy. If you don’t know the genotype of the virus causing your infection, use the Questions Worksheet so you can ask your doctor at your next appointment.
Only your doctor can tell you how your genotype relates to your treatment, but generally people with genotypes 1 and 4 require 48 weeks of treatment and people with genotypes 2 and 3 need only 24 weeks of treatment.
