Hepatitis 'C' virus (HCV) is a positive strand RNA virus[1] classified as a separate genus within the family Flaviviridae, though this classification may be changed.[2] Its genome consists of about 9400 bases that code for a polyprotein of approximately 3000 amino acids.1 This polyprotein is cleaved after translation by cellular or viral proteases to give the structural proteins that have a presumed enzymatic role in viral replication.[3] HCV is known to have 11 distinct genotypes, with over seventy subtypes, each associated with a varying degree of severity of disease, prognosis and response to interferon therapy.[4]