Screening · Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C Screening
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver, often quietly for years. The remarkable news is that it’s now curable in almost everyone with a short course of pills.
Because it usually causes no symptoms, a one-time blood test is recommended for all adults so it can be found and cured before it does harm.
The Basics
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that infects the liver. In many people the infection becomes chronic and, over years, can lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer. It often causes no symptoms until late, which is exactly why screening matters.
Why screen if I feel fine?
Feeling well is the norm with hepatitis C, so a test is the only way to know. And the payoff is big: treatment now cures the great majority of people, preventing the serious complications that used to be common.
Who & When
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends (Grade B):
- All adults aged 18 to 79 should be screened at least once.
- More often with ongoing risk, especially current or past injection drug use.
- In each pregnancy, screening is recommended.
The bottom line: a single test for every adult, repeated only if you have ongoing risk.
The Test
Screening starts with an HCV antibody test, which shows whether you’ve ever been exposed. If it’s positive, a follow-up HCV RNA (PCR) test confirms whether the virus is currently active and needs treatment. Both use a simple blood draw. See our hepatitis C test page for details.
Your Results
- Antibody negative — no exposure; no further testing needed unless there’s new risk.
- Antibody positive, RNA negative — a past infection that has cleared; no active virus.
- RNA positive — active infection; we discuss treatment, which is usually curative.
Treatment & Cure
Modern direct-acting antivirals cure more than 95% of people, usually with 8 to 12 weeks of well-tolerated daily pills and few side effects. Curing hepatitis C removes the long-term risk to your liver, so finding it is genuinely worthwhile.
Higher Risk
Repeat testing or extra attention makes sense with current or past injection drug use, a blood transfusion before 1992, living with HIV, being born to a mother with hepatitis C, a history of incarceration, or tattoos or piercings done in unregulated settings.
Signs to Watch
Most people have no symptoms. When advanced liver disease develops, it can cause fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or abdominal swelling. Since symptoms come late, don’t wait for them, a one-time test is the way to catch it early.
Useful Links
Talk it through with Dr. Mui
A one-time test could find something that’s completely curable. Book a visit and we’ll add it to your bloodwork.
Prefer to ask first? Text Dr. Mui at 617-675-4085.
This page is for general education and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Screening guidelines change over time and the right plan depends on your personal risk. Always talk with a qualified health provider about your specific situation.