Objective   To investigate the significance of serum HCV RNA load and the risk factors of transmission between chronic hepatits C(CHC)pat ients and their spouse infections.

  Methods   The anti0HCV was detected in serum, urine, tear and sperm from CHC patients with EIA.HCV RNA was detected by FQ-PCR technology for CHC patients and their spouses as well.

  Results   The incidences of anti-HCV in serum, urine, tear, and sperm from CHC patients and their spouses were 94.26%(115/122), 42.8%(21/49), 11.9%(5/42), 47.22%(17/36)and 22.5%(27/120), and the incidences of HCV RNA were 88.15%(67/122), 55.10%(27/49), 19.04%(8/42), 66.67%(24/36)and 25.83%(31/120), respectively.But all of cross-references were negative.The incidence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in female group of spouses was 5.06%(11/73), 78.08%(57/73);the incidence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in female group of spouses was up to 29.78% (14/47), 89.36%(42/47), While serum of CHC patients HCV RNA load ≥10⁵ copies/ml, their spouse HCV RNA positive incidence was 29.19%(21/69), but their spouses HCV RNA positive incidence was 19.4%(11/57)as in the serum of CHC patients HCV RNA load < 10⁵ copies/ml.The rates of HCV RNA were 13.33%(2/15), 22.22%(4/18), 32.00%(8/25) and 55.32%(27/47)of spouse married ages less 10, from 11-20, 21-30 to 31-54 years, respectively.

  Conclusion   HCV can be transmitted between the spouse and CHC patient.The female spouse is more easily infected than the male spouse of CHC patients.When CHC patients peripheral serum HCV RNA load≥10⁵ copies/ml, the infected riskness of their spouse is higher than that of the spouses of peripheral serum HCV RNA load < 10⁵ copies/ml.The incidence of spouse infection HCV is positive correlation with the married age.