G(EE) - A NEW HEPATITIS-VIRUS

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly discovered virus of the flavivirus family. It has recently been identified by two independent laboratorie s. We review the discovery of this virus and summarize tile molecular biology techniques that were employed to isolate and sequence HGV. Alt hough HGV call cause both acute and chronic hepatitis and is found in similar to 1% of U.S. blood donors, it is unclear whether HGV is a maj or cause of hepatic pathology. At present, it is difficult to screen b lood donors for HGV routinely due to the unavailability of a reliable ELISA test, and so it is unclear what action blood banks should take r egarding this virus. It is possible that HGV may be linked to extrahep atic diseases.