Testing Recommendations for Hepatitis C Virus Infection
CDC’s Testing Recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection are outlined below. Testing should be initiated with anti-HCV. For those with reactive test results, the anti-HCV test should be followed with an HCV RNA.
Persons for Whom HCV Testing Is Recommended
- Adults born from 1945 through 1965 should be tested once (without prior ascertainment of HCV risk factors)
- HCV testing is recommended for those who:
- Currently injecting drugs
- Ever injected drugs, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago
- Have certain medical conditions, including persons:
- who received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987
- who were ever on long-term hemodialysis
- with persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT)
- who have HIV infection
- Were prior recipients of transfusions or organ transplants, including persons who:
- were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection
- received a transfusion of blood, blood components, or an organ transplant before July 1992
- HCV- testing based on a recognized exposure is recommended for:
- Healthcare, emergency medical, and public safety workers after needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposures to HCV-positive blood
- Children born to HCV-positive women
Note: For persons who might have been exposed to HCV within the past 6 months, testing for HCV RNA or follow-up testing for HCV antibody is recommended.
Persons for Whom Routine HCV Testing Is of Uncertain Need
- Recipients of transplanted tissue (e.g., corneal, musculoskeletal, skin, ova, sperm)
- Intranasal cocaine and other non-injecting illegal drug users
- Persons with a history of tattooing or body piercing
- Persons with a history of multiple sex partners or sexually transmitted diseases
- Long-term steady sex partners of HCV-positive persons
Persons for Whom Routine HCV Testing Is Not Recommended
(unless they have risk factors for infection):
- Health-care, emergency medical, and public safety workers
- Pregnant women
- Household (nonsexual) contacts of HCV-positive persons
- General population
Sources
Recommendations for the Identification of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Persons Born During 1945–1965 (MMWR 2012;61(RR04);1-18).
Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and HCV-Related Chronic Disease [PDF - 54 pages] (MMWR 1998;47(RR-19)).
Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents [PDF - 216 pages] (MMWR 2009; 58(RR04)).
USPSTF Recommendations
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection
USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in persons at high risk for infection and offering one-time screening for HCV infection to adults born between 1945-1965. Grade: B Recommendation.
Resources
- Overview of Testing Recommendations for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Persons Born During 1945–1965
- Testing for HCV infection: An update of guidance for clinicians and laboratorians. [PDF - 4 pages]
MMWR 2013; Vol. 62 Early Release - Recommended Testing Sequence for Identifying Current Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection [PDF- 1 page]
- Interpretation of Results of Tests for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Further Actions [PDF- 1 page]
- Page last reviewed: October 15, 2015
- Page last updated: October 15, 2015
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