Definition of Hepatitis C virusHepatitis C virus: A single-stranded RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family that causes hepatitis C. Abbreviated HCV. The HCV genome contains some 10,000 nucleotides and encodes a single polyprotein of 3,000 amino acids. HCV was discovered in 1989. Before that time, hepatitis C was referred to as non-A, non-B hepatitis. Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012 Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List 
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