Screening

Getting Tested for Hepatitis Can Save Your Life

Everyone should get tested at least once in their lifetime for hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV). Some people are at higher risk for exposure and need to be screened more regularly.

Universal hepatitis B screening:

Screen all adults 18 years and older at least once in their lifetime using a triple panel test (HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc)
Screen pregnant people for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during each pregnancy regardless of vaccination status and history of testing.
Test anyone who requests HBV testing regardless of disclosure risk.

Expand periodic risk-based testing to the following groups:

Incarcerated people
People with a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners
People with HCV infection

Screen the following as long as the risk for exposure persists:
- People with a history of sexually transmitted infections or multiple sex partners
- People with hepatitis C infection or a history of hepatitis C infection
- People incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in a jail, prison, or other detention setting
- Infants born to HBs-Ag-positive people
- People born in regions with HBV infection prevalance of ≥2%
- U.S.-born people not vaccinated as infants whose parents were born in geographic regions with HBs-Ag prevalence >8%
- People who inject drugs or have a history of injection drug use
- People with HIV infection
- Men who have sex with men
- Household contact or former household contacts of people with known HBV infection
- Needle-sharing or sexual contacts of people with known HBV infections
- People on maintenance dialysis, including in-center or home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- People with elevated liver enzymes

Universal hepatitis C screening:
- Hepatitis C screening at least once in a lifetime for all adults aged 18 years and older, except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection (HCV RNA‑positivity) is less than 0.1%*
- Hepatitis C screening for all pregnant women during each pregnancy, except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection (HCV RNA‑positivity) is less than 0.1%*
One‑time hepatitis C testing regardless of age or setting prevalence among people with recognized conditions or exposures:
- People with HIV
- People who ever injected drugs and shared needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago
- People with selected medical conditions, including:
  - people who ever received maintenance hemodialysis
  - people with persistently abnormal ALT levels
- Prior recipients of transfusions or organ transplants, including:
  - people who received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987
  - people who received a transfusion of blood or blood components before July 1992
  - people who received an organ transplant before July 1992
  - people who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection
- Health care, emergency medical, and public safety personnel after needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposures to HCV‑positive blood pdf icon[PDF – 177 KB]
- Children born to mothers with HCV infection

Routine periodic testing for people with ongoing risk factors, while risk factors persist:
- People who currently inject drugs and share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment
- People with selected medical conditions, including:
  - people who ever received maintenance hemodialysis

Any person who requests hepatitis C testing should receive it, regardless of disclosure of risk, because many persons may be reluctant to disclose stigmatizing risks

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1. Find a testing site

Testing for HBV and HCV are available at many locations including primary care and clinics that provide screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Resources for screening and treatment

2. Request the test

Any person who requests testing should receive it, regardless of disclosure of risk, because many persons may be reluctant to disclose stigmatizing risks. Watch this short YouTube video about the HCV testing experience.

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HCV: Understand your status

A blood test, called an HCV antibody test, is used to find out if someone has ever been infected. This test, sometimes called the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies, which are proteins released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected with the virus that causes hepatitis C. People who have positive HCV antibody tests are given a follow-up HCV RNA test to learn whether they have active infection or a past infection that their body stopped.

CDC guide for HCV testing

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HBV: Understand your status

Several different HBV tests are available. Depending on the test, they can determine whether someone:

has chronic or acute HBV
is immune to HBV after vaccination or;
was infected in the past, has cleared the virus and is protected from future infection.

Understanding your Hep B test results

Positive Test

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HCV

If you have a positive antibody test and positive RNA, then you should talk to your provider about treatment. Available treatments can cure HCV in 8-12 weeks with minimal side effects.

HBV

If test results indicate that you have HBV infection, your provider should refer you to a specialist who can help you understand how to stay healthy and monitor for any complications. While medications are available to manage HBV, there is currently no cure and medications may not be for everyone.

Treatment/management information for HBV and HCV

Negative Test

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HBV and HCV

If you have a negative test, you may still need regular testing. Regular testing is recommended for people who have unprotected sex with multiple sex partners, currently inject drugs and share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment and for people who get maintenance hemodialysis.

If not already vaccinated, consider getting vaccinated against HAV and HBV.

Vaccination Information