Hepatitis C virus (HCV): Screening and testing for health professionals

• 67% of Canadians reported never being tested for HCV
• 44% of those living with HCV are unaware of their infection

Hepatitis C is often asymptomatic

Offer testing to anyone with a risk factor or clinical indication.

Risk factors:

• shared drug-use equipment, even once
• received personal services (e.g., tattooing or piercing), with nonsterile equipment
• exposed to blood during sexual activity
• received blood, blood products, or organ transplant before 1992
• received medical care where non-sterile equipment may have been used
• born, travelled, or lived in a region where hepatitis C is common
• born to a mother with hepatitis C
• shared personal care items

Clinical indications:

• diagnosis of HIV or hepatitis B
• clinical clues or symptoms of liver disease
• occupational exposure (e.g., needlestick)

Take an active approach to testing

Testing for HCV: the diagnosis of HCV infection requires 2 tests.

1. The first test is the hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV):
   • a negative anti-HCV test result indicates no HCV infection
   • a positive anti-HCV test result indicates current or resolved HCV infection, which requires further testing with a second test called the hepatitis C ribonucleic acid test
2. The second test is the hepatitis C ribonucleic acid test (HCV RNA):
   • a negative HCV RNA result indicates no HCV infection (resolved HCV infection)
   • a positive HCV RNA test result indicates current HCV infection

Hepatitis C is curable

Link to care: interferon-free direct acting antiviral treatments have a sustained virologic response >90%.

• treatment regimens range from 8 to 24 weeks and have few side effects
• consult a health professional experienced in the management of viral hepatitis

For more information, please visit Canada.ca and search 'hepatitis C for health professionals'.