Objective: Diagnostic methods of hepatitis C-virus. Subject: A review article. Setting: 1st Internal Clinic, General Faculty Hospital in Prague, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University. Subject and Method: Hepatitis C virus infection importance is increasing during the last few years, in concordance with this fact therapeutical options are being developed very rapidly, too. Majority of cases of HCV infection has a silent clinical course for a long time and patients are often diagnosed in the late stage of liver disease. This is the reason why the diagnosis should be established as early as possible. Gynecologist can be the first person who can observe the symptoms of the infection and therefore he may become the key person in the diagnostic process. Conclusion: The basic facts about the diagnostic methods and clinical course of the disease are mentioned in this review. The differences in clinical course of HCV infection in pregnancy and the vertical transmission is discussed in details.

        Key words: HCV infection, vertical transmission