Hepatitis C viral RNA in sera from 10 patients with post-transfusion hepatitis in Shanghai (China) were amplified By the nested PCR with primer sets deduced from the American prototype HCV RNA 5' -untranslated region. Eight of 10 cases (80%) were positive. And manipulations of PCR were simplified by combination of reverse transcription step and the first round PCR reaction. Our results indirectly proved that 5-untranslated region of HCV RNA of Shanghai showed a high degree of comservation and homology compared with isolates from some regions in the world.