The subjects will be monitored for side-effects by history taking and blood testing at predetermined time periods during the study. If the viral load has not dropped more than two log at week 12 of standard therapy for hepatitis C then therapy will be stopped and the subject is considered a treatment failure. Similarly, if there was a greater than two log drop in the viral load at week 12 but there is still virus present in the blood at week 24 then therapy is stopped and the subject is considered treatment failure. If the virus is undetectable in the blood at week 12 and 24 then therapy is continued for the full 48 weeks. If the virus is detectable at week 48 then the subject is considered a treatment failure.