In 69% of patients with chronic HCV infection HCV RNA was detectable in stool.
Patients with HCV RNA-positive stool had lower platelets and were more often male.
Only 5 out of 68 (7%) samples tested positive for occult blood.
In stool samples viral infectivity was detectable up to one hour in vitro.
In bile samples viral infectivity was detectable up to eight hours in vitro.