Objective To investigate the infection rate of hepatitis C virus among the ambulatory patients and in-patients of a tertiary teaching hospital,and study the demographic factors related to the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection.Methods All patients tested for hepatitis C virus antibody from July 2008 to July 2009 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled in this cross-sectional analysis.The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection was compared according to age,gender,and departments,respectively.Among patients with positive serology hepatitis C virus marker,the positivity of hepatitis C virus RNA was analysed.Results Among 29 896 subjects included,the hepatitis C virus antibody of 494 patients were positive(1.7%).When patients were divided into 9 age groups,the age specific prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody were0.2%,1.7%,1.2%,1.1%,1.5%,1.9%,2.6%,2.4%and 2%,respectively.The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in non-surgical department and surgical department was 3%and 1%,respectively.The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody of males was higher than that of the females.Total of 194 patients with positive hepatitis C virus antibody were tested for hepatitis C virus RNA,the RNA level of 113 patients(58.2%)were higher than the low detection limit.Conclusions The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody was relatively high among patients of general tertiary hospital.Age group of 60-69,males and patients in non-surgical departments were factors associated with high rate of hepatitis C virus infection. Objective To investigate the infection rate of hepatitis C virus among the ambulatory patients and in-patients of a tertiary teaching hospital, and study the demographic factors related to the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection. Methods All patients tested for hepatitis C virus antibody from July 2008 to July 2009 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled in this cross-sectional analysis. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection was compared according to age, gender, and departments, respectively. Among patients with positive serology hepatitis C virus marker, the Of the 29 896 subjects included, the hepatitis C virus antibody of 494 patients were positive (1.7%). When patients were divided into 9 age groups, the age specific prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody were0 .2%, 1.7%, 1.2%, 1.1%, 1.5%, 1.9%, 2.6%, 2.4% and 2%, respectively. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in non-surgical department and surgical depart ment was 3% and 1%, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody of males was higher than that of the females. Total of 194 patients with positive hepatitis C virus antibody were tested for hepatitis C virus RNA, the RNA level of 113 Patients (58.2%) were higher than the low detection limit. Confidence The prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody was relatively high among patients of general tertiary hospital. Age group of 60-69, males and patients in non-surgical departments were factors associated with high rate of hepatitis C virus infection.