Of individuals infected with HCV, 15%-20% experience recovery. While the remaining 75%-85% progress to chronic hepatitis C. Individuals with chronic infection may have no symptoms. However, approximately 60% of individuals with chronic infection advance to fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Persons for Whom Hepatitis C screening Is Recommended
- Adults born from 1945 through 1965 should be tested once.
- Currently injecting drugs
- Ever injected drugs, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago
- Received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987
- Long-term blood dialysis
- Persistently abnormal amino levels.
- Have HIV infection
- Prior recipients of transfusions or organ transplants, including persons who:
- Received blood from a donor who later tested positive for infection
- A transfusion of blood, blood components, or an organ transplant before July 1992
As persons for Whom Routine Hepatitis C screening Is of Uncertain Need
- Recipients of transplanted tissue (e.g., corneal, skin, ova, sperm)
- Cocaine and other non-injecting illegal drug users
- Persons with a history of tattooing or body piercing
- Persons with a history of multiple sex partners or sexually transmitted diseases
- Especially Long-term steady sex partners of HCV-positive persons
Routine Hepatitis C Screening Is Not Recommended For:
- Health-care, emergency medical, and public safety workers
- Pregnant women
- Household (nonsexual) contacts of HCV-positive persons