How do I get tested for HCV?
There are multiple testing options to see if you have hepatitis C. One test is a finger stick blood test, called an HCV antibody test. The results are available in 20 mins. This test can detect if you have ever been infected with HCV. This test costs about $20.00. A more common test method would be having your blood drawn at the local health department or at your doctor’s office. The results come back within several days.
If no virus is found in your blood, you do not have hepatitis C and do not need treatment. If HCV is found in your blood, you will need to get additional lab work before getting treatment. A reactive or positive result means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. It does not necessarily mean you still have hepatitis C.
An additional test is needed to see if you currently have hepatitis C. This test is called an HCV RNA or a viral load test. If this test comes back positive you will need to talk to a doctor about treatment. If the viral load test comes back negative, it means you were infected with HCV previously, but have cleared it on your own, or through treatment in the past, and do not currently have HCV.
Where to get tested?
