Abstract: Objective To describe the positive rate of anti-HCV among children in Beijing and explore the status of anti-HCV reexamination for anti-HCV positive children. Methods Patients under 18 who had visited the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from September 1st in 2013 to August 30th in 2015 and had tested the anti-HCV were selected as targeted population to collect the demographic characteristics, the diagnostic information, and the results of anti-HCV tests. For anti-HCV positive hospitalized children, telephone interviews were conducted with guardians to inquire whether the parents know their children’s results of anti-HCV and whether the children had reexamined the anti-HCV. Results A total of 25 748 children with a median age of 2.9(1.3, 6.1) were selected and the positive rate of anti-HCV was 0.04%. Among the HCV screened children, 98% were tested anti-HCV on account of routine examination before operation, routine examination before endoscopy or blood transfusion/administration of blood product. The positive rates of anti-HCV among anti-HCV screened children on account of routine examination before endoscopy or blood transfusion/administration of blood product were both 0.08%, higher than that of routine examination before operation. Through the telephone interview with 51 anti-HCV grey/positive children’s guardians, only 58.8% parents knew their children’s results of HCV test. 41.2% anti-HCV positive children reexamined anti-HCV. Conclusions The infection rate of HCV among children in Beijing is low. The awareness of anti-HCV screening for parents and physicians need to be strengthened.

Key words: Hepatitis C virus, Children, Screening