What is Hepatitis C?

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

Finally Persons for Whom Routine Hepatitis C screening Is Not Recommended

• Health-care, emergency medical, and public safety workers
• Pregnant women
• Household (nonsexual) contacts of HCV-positive persons
• Finally General population