10 Reasons to Get Tested for Hepatitis C
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Ellen Greenlaw on November 7, 2020
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Are You At Risk?Although millions of Americans have the hepatitis C virus, many don’t know it. This is because you can have hepatitis C for years without having any symptoms. If you fall into any of the following risk groups, talk with your doctor about getting tested.
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1. You’ve Injected DrugsHepatitis C is spread from the blood of an infected person to another. This makes using needles a major risk factor. If you’ve injected drugs, get tested, even if you did it only once or it was a long time ago.
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2. You Have HIV or AIDSAbout one-quarter of people with HIV/AIDS also have hepatitis C. And if you have HIV or AIDS, hepatitis C may damage your liver more quickly or severely. This makes it even more important to get tested.
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3. You’re a Baby BoomerYou have a higher risk of hepatitis C if you were born between 1945 and 1965. More than 75% of people with hepatitis C were born during these years. Doctors think this is because many baby boomers were exposed in the 1970s and 1980s—when rates of hepatitis C were highest.
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4. You Received Blood Before 1992Blood and organ donations were not screened for the hepatitis C virus until 1992. So if you received a blood or organ donation before this date, you could be at risk.
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5. You Are on HemodialysisThere have been cases in which hepatitis C was spread between patients in hemodialysis centers. Although this risk is small, talk with your doctor about getting tested for hepatitis C if you’re on long-term hemodialysis.
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6. You Have an Abnormal Liver TestMany people first learn they have hepatitis C from an abnormal liver function test. An abnormal test doesn’t always mean you have hepatitis C (or other viruses that attack the liver), but in some cases that can be the cause.
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7. You Have Liver DiseaseHepatitis C may be the cause of your liver disease. If this is the case, it’s important to know so you can talk with your doctor about treatment. Treatment for hepatitis C can slow down or stop the damage to your liver and prolong your life.
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8. You’ve Been Exposed to Blood at WorkYou may be at risk if you are a healthcare worker and are accidentally stuck with a needle used on a person with hepatitis C. You may also have a small risk if you’re exposed to blood in other ways, such as getting it splashed in your eyes. If you have any type of accident that involves blood, get tested.
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9. Your Mother Had Hepatitis C at Your BirthIf your mother had hepatitis C when you were born, there’s a chance you may have it, too. While it’s not common for women to pass the virus to their babies, it is possible. If your mother also had HIV at the time of your birth, your risk is a bit higher.
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10. You’ve Been Intimate With Someone Who Has Hepatitis CIn rare cases, hepatitis C is spread through sex. The risk is low, but it’s higher if you have HIV or another sexually transmitted disease. You may also have a higher risk if you have rough sex or many sexual partners.
Should You Get Tested for Hepatitis C?