tested?

Frequently-asked Questions about Hepatitis C

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Who should get tested for HCV?

persons who ever injected illegal drugs, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago

persons who were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987 (when more advanced methods for manufacturing the products were developed)

persons who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C

persons who received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992 (when better testing of blood donors became available)

long-term hemodialysis patients

persons who have signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests)

healthcare workers after exposures (e.g., needle sticks or splashes to the eye ) to HCV-positive blood on the job

children born to HCV-positive women

(taken from the CDC Viral Hepatitis C Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm)

PERSONS	RISK OF INFECTION	TESTING RECOMMENDED?
Injecting drug users	High	Yes
Recipients of clotting factors made before 1987	High	Yes
Hemodialysis patients	Intermediate	Yes
Recipients of blood and/or solid organs before 1992	Intermediate	Yes
People with undiagnosed liver problems	Intermediate	Yes
Infants born to infected mothers	Intermediate	After 12-18 mos. old
Healthcare/public safety workers	Low	Only after known exposure
People having sex with multiple partners	Low	No*
People having sex with an infected steady partner	Low	No*

*Anyone who wants to get tested should ask their doctor.