General Test Questions

What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in an infected person's blood. Hepatitis C is a serious disease. Many people may carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Infected people can develop liver damage, but do not necessarily feel sick. Even those who develop a persistent infection may not show symptoms until there is severe liver damage. In some cases, Hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer over a period of 20 to 30 years.

How can you tell if someone is infected with Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C can only be detected with a blood test. A person can be Hepatitis C infected for many years while looking and feeling healthy, with no signs at all of being sick.

Who is most likely to become infected with the Hepatitis C virus?
Anyone can be infected with the Hepatitis C virus. However, people most likely to become infected with the Hepatitis C virus include individuals who:

1. have had sexual contact with multiple individuals over the course of their lifetime
2. have ever had any sexually transmitted disease (STD);
3. received treatment with a clotting factor concentrate manufactured before 1987;
4. have ever injected illegal drugs, even once;
5. had a blood transfusion and or received an organ transplant such as kidney, lung, or heart, before effective screening began in July 1992;
6. have been healthcare workers with exposure to blood from a Hepatitis C infected person, especially through accidental needle sticks, or
7. have been or are on long term kidney dialysis (hemodialysis). Please note that these are not in the order in exposure risks. You can contract Hepatitis C from ANY of the above.

Are there other types of viral Hepatitis?
Yes, the other most common types are Hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by personal contact with someone who is infected and by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Most people recover from Hepatitis A within 6 months without serious health problems. Hepatitis B is transmitted through infected blood and other bodily fluids. Most people (90%) are able to recover from Hepatitis B infection; however, those individuals who become chronically infected may develop cirrhosis and liver cancer, if left untreated. Both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are preventable by vaccines. There is no vaccine for HCV.

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C?
The most common symptom of Hepatitis C is fatigue; however, most infected people have no recognizable signs or symptoms for a long time. Some people do experience flu-like symptoms, such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness and mild abdominal pain. Less common symptoms are dark urine and jaundice of the skin and eyes. The only way to know if you are infected is through blood tests.