HCV is RNA virus and is the most common causative agent for Hepatitus in Pakistan. I diagnostic labs, it is a routine practice to quantify the viral load in patient samples using automated systems as well as kits i.e. qiagen. If I use manual methods, which RT enzyme will be the best.
Zain Ali, RTase is not your major concern, look to good primers rather than RT. HCV is highly variable and difficult to catch in a home-brew PCR. In Pakistan you have HCV type 3 mostly, however other genotypes are detected as well, it's important to "cover" all these with your in-house assay.
Attached a publication for a little inspiration, but it is just an example.
I did my in-house HCV quant many years ago, but be careful, HCV loads are ranging from low values to hundred of million of copies, you never know which baseline you find in a patient, how do you plan to "see" such values in due time, you have to have a very good dynamic range and a robust standard curve. Especially if the baseline value is used to observe the evolution afterwards, treated or not treated. Be cautious
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