Hepatitis G virus (HGV): where we stand and what to do?

Hepatitis G virus was identified in 1995. Some work was done on HGV until 1997 and the FDA declared it as a non-harmful virus. This resulted in no screening of virus for blood donors and bags from 1997 until today. A review of scientific literature of the last 16 years, majority identify with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has shown that HGV is quite prevalent around the globe with low to high prevalence in different countries among blood donors and other groups. It was found to be associated in hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and possibly present in hepatocellular carcinoma. It was also seen in hematological disorders and hematological malignancies. It is advisable that screening of blood is better than transferring HGV ignorantly to blood recipients as it was done before, where we did transfer HCV to many individuals which resulted in a lot of morbidities and mortalities.