Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Screening Recommendations

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is predominately transmitted by parental exposure to blood and blood products from HCV-infected persons. At this time there is no effective vaccination against HCV. However, patients with chronic HCV infection can be treated with interferon therapy and 25-40 percent will have a sustained response. New therapeutic regimens with Pegylated interferon are available. Pegylated interferon is the same interferon but long acting, requiring only a single weekly injection.

Recommendations for Hepatitis C screening:

1. Health care providers are encouraged to assess the risk status of patients and to screen those at high risk including:

• Persons who received blood or blood products prior to 1992
  
• Persons who have a history of injection drug use
  
• Persons who are spouses or household contacts of HCV-infected persons