Abstract: OBJECTIVE To study the characteristics and clinical significance of hepatitis C virus genotyping in Xiaogan area.METHODS The clinical data and peripheral venous blood of 398 patients with HCV from Jun.2011 to Jun.2015 in Xiaogan area were collected.RT-PCR method was used to determine the content of HCV RNA,and Sanger sequencing method was used to detect the HCV genotype.Liver function indexes ALT and AST were detected by double reagent rate method.The data were statistically analyzed.RESULTS There were 7genotypes of HCV in Xiaogan area,in which type 1bwas accounted for up to 71.11%,and secondly type 2awas accounted for16.33%.HCV genotype in HCV and HBV overlapping infection was mainly genotype of 1b2 a,and the ratio was higher than pure HCV infection（P＜0.01）.The ratio of HCV infection with genotype 1bof male was higher than female（P＜0.01）,and the ratio of female infected with type 2arelative to male was higher（P＜0.01）.The age of HCV infection mainly distributed in 30 60 years old,of different ages were mainly infected with HCV1 b type.The genotypes of different routes of transmission of HCV by blood dialysis and vertical transmission were 1b and 2atypes,by blood transfusion were 6genotypes,and by intravenous drug use,other channels and unexplained transmission were 7genotype of,which was dispersed.The serum HCV-RNA content in patients with HCV1 infection was higher than that in type 2,type 3and type 6（P＜0.01）.The plasma ALT level in patients with HCV1 infection was higher than that in type 2,type 3,and type 6（P＜0.01）.CONCLUSION In Xiaogan area,the distribution of HCV genotype is diversified,with the main 1btype.HCV genotype,viral content,transmission routes and the degree of damage to the liver are of great value in clinical diagnosis and treatment.which can provide evidences for the assessment of patients with chronic hepatitis C,and the formulation of individual treatment programs.