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About 3.9 million people in the U.S. have Hepatitis C. But it causes few symptoms, so most of them don't know. Learn the facts about Hepatitis C and get tested!

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can all cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. The virus spreads through an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

How is Hepatitis C transmitted?

Some people are at increased risk for having Hepatitis C, including:

  • Current or former injection drug users, including those who injected only once many years ago
  • Those born from 1945 through 1965
  • Recipients of clotting factor concentrates made before 1987, when less advanced methods for manufacturing those products were used
  • Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants prior to July 1992, before better testing of blood donors became available
  • Hemodialysis patients
  • People with known exposures to the hepatitis C virus, such as:
    • Health care workers after needle sticks involving blood from someone who is infected with the hepatitis C virus
    • Recipients of blood or organs from a donor who tested positive for the hepatitis C virus
  • People with HIV infection
  • Children born to mothers infected with the hepatitis C virus
  • People who are incarcerated
  • People who use intranasal drugs
  • People who received body piercing or tattoos done with non-sterile instruments

Who should get tested for Hepatitis C?

CDC recommends Hepatitis C testing for:

  • Current or former injection drug users, including those who injected only once many years ago
  • Everyone born from 1945  to 1965
  • Anyone who received clotting factor concentrates made before 1987
  • Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants prior to July 1992
  • Long-term hemodialysis patients
  • People with known exposures to the hepatitis C virus, such as
    • health care workers or public safety workers after needle sticks involving blood from someone infected with hepatitis C virus
    • recipients of blood or organs from a donor who tested positive for the hepatitis C virus
  • People with HIV infection
  • Children born to mothers with hepatitis C

Other experts, including a group that helps set health policies in the United States, called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends hepatitis C virus testing for additional groups including:

  • People in jails or prisons
  • People who use drugs snorted through the nose (in addition to people who inject drugs)
  • People who get an unregulated tattoo

Information on this page provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We offer Hepatitis C Testing.

Schedule with us today.

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