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1. What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have this disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.

2. Is there a vaccine for the prevention of HCV infection?

No.

3. What blood tests are available to check for hepatitis C?

Find information about blood tests on our Blood Tests to Check for Hepatitis C page.

4. How could a person have gotten hepatitis C?

HCV is spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. For example, you may have gotten infected with HCV if:

• You ever injected street drugs, as the needles and/or other drug "works" used to prepare or inject the drug(s) may have had someone else's blood that contained HCV on them.
• You received blood, blood products or solid organs from a donor whose blood contained HCV.
• You were ever on long-term kidney dialysis as you may have unknowingly shared supplies/equipment that had someone else's blood on them.
• You were ever a healthcare worker and had frequent contact with blood on the job, especially accidental needlesticks.
• Your mother had hepatitis C at the time she gave birth to you. During the birth her blood may have gotten into your body.
• You ever had sex with a person infected with HCV.
• You lived with someone who was infected with HCV and shared items such as razors or toothbrushes that might have had his/her blood on them.

5. How long can Hepatitis C Virus live outside the body and transmit infection?

Recent studies suggest that HCV may survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature at least 16 hours, but no longer than 4 days.