Hepatitis C
What is hepatitis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis.
Hepatitis is most often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
How is hepatitis spread?
The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:
Sharing drug-injection equipment – Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.
Birth – Approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C.
Healthcare exposures – Although uncommon, people can become infected when healthcare professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections.
Sex with an infected person – While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men.
Unregulated tattoos or body piercings – Hepatitis C can spread when getting tattoos or body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with non-sterile instruments.
Sharing personal items – People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.
Blood transfusions and organ transplants – Before widespread screening of the blood supply in 1992, hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis-c
A blood test called a hepatitis C antibody test can tell if you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus – either recently or in the past. If you have a positive antibody test, another blood test is needed to tell if you are still infected or if you were infected in the past and cleared the virus on your own.
The CDC recommends you get tested if you:
- Are 18 years of age and older
- Are pregnant (get tested during each pregnancy)
- Currently inject drugs (get tested regularly)
- Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
- Have HIV
- Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
- Are on hemodialysis
- Received donated blood or organs before July 1992
- Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
- Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C
- Were born to a mother with hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can be prevented
Although there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, there are ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected.
- Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
- Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, even in amounts too small to see, such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
- Do not get tattoos or body piercings from an unlicensed facility or in an informal setting.
Hepatitis C Testing
Getting tested for hepatitis C:
A blood test, called an HCV antibody test, is used to find out if someone has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus. The HCV antibody test, sometimes called the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus in blood. Antibodies are chemicals released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected.
Rapid anti-HCV tests are available and the results of these tests are available in 20 to 30 minutes.
What does a non-reactive HCV antibody test result mean?
A non-reactive or negative antibody test means that you are not currently infected with the hepatitis C virus. However, if you think you might have been exposed to hepatitis C in the last 6 months, you will need to be tested again.
What does a reactive HCV antibody test result mean?
A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood. This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood. A reactive antibody test does not necessarily mean that you currently have hepatitis C and a follow-up test is needed.
What to do if the HCV antibody test is reactive
If the antibody test is reactive or positive, you need an additional test to see if you currently have hepatitis C. This test is called a nucleic acid test (NAT) for HCV RNA. Another name used for this test is a PCR test. If the NAT for HCV RNA is: • Negative – you were infected with hepatitis C virus, but the virus is no longer in your body because you were cured or cleared the virus naturally. • Positive – you now have the virus in your blood. If you have a reactive antibody test and a positive NAT for HCV RNA, you will need to talk to a doctor about treatment. Treatments are available that can cure most people with hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.
Interested in receiving a free and confidential Hepatitis C screening? Please call (843) 719-3018.
MONCKS CORNER OFFICE
306 Airport Drive
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
(843) 761-8272
(843) 577-9181
Fax: (843) 719-3025
GOOSE CREEK OFFICE
96 Wisteria Road
Goose Creek, SC 29445
(843) 797-7871
Fax: (843) 797-8638
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