When should I get a hepatitis C test?

In the U.S., the most common way of becoming infected with hepatitis C is by sharing needles used to inject drugs. Less commonly, you can be infected with hepatitis C in other ways, including during birth, through sex with a person infected with HCV, and by coming into contact with infected blood. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.

If you are 18 or older, it is important to get screened for hepatitis C at least once in your lifetime. Again, the virus often presents without symptoms. Screening is also recommended during pregnancy and if you have risk factors for HCV infection. If you have risk factors, periodic screening is recommended for as long as risk factors persist.

Risk factors for hepatitis C include:

• Current or past injectable drug use
• Having a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992
• Receiving kidney dialysis
• Having contact with needles, including at work and while getting tattoos or piercings
• Working or living in a prison
• Being born to a mother with hepatitis C
• Having an HIV infection
• Engaging in unprotected sex

Hepatitis C testing may also be performed when liver tests are abnormal or when diagnosing the cause of existing liver damage. Also, HCV screening is critical if you are experiencing symptoms. Although hepatitis C often causes no symptoms, you could develop symptoms within one to three months after contracting the virus. Some common signs include:

• Dark yellow urine
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Fever
• Clay- or gray-colored stools
• Pain in the abdomen or joints
• Nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
• Jaundice or yellowish skin and eyes

Because many who contract HCV are asymptomatic and those who do experience signs could easily write off feelings like fever or fatigue as something else, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor. A health professional can address the nuances of when to test, if screening is necessary, and what type of hepatitis C testing is best for your situation.