Hepatitis C Test

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects your liver. Lots of people don't notice anything at first because it often doesn't show symptoms for a long time. But even without symptoms, the virus can harm your liver and lead to serious issues later on, like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

How does the test work?

The Hepatitis C test is a blood test.

1. We'll take a small blood sample from your vein.
2. Your blood sample will be sent to the specialized Dr. Risch lab.
3. There, it will be checked for antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus.

When should you get tested?

• You should get tested after a possible risky situation (like unprotected sex, sharing needles, or contact with blood).
• To make sure the result is reliable, you need to wait at least 12 weeks. That's because your body needs time to make enough antibodies for the test to pick them up.

What do the results mean?

• No antibodies found: This means you don't have an infection.
• Antibodies found: At first, this just means your body has come into contact with the virus.
• Important: This alone doesn't mean you're actually sick.
• That's why we do a confirmation test, just to be absolutely sure.

Only if the confirmation test is also positive do we say you have a confirmed infection.

Why is it important to find out early?

• Hepatitis C can be treated really well these days – and in most cases, it can even be cured!
• The sooner the illness is found, the better we can prevent long-term problems with your liver.
• Getting treatment early not only protects your health but also lowers the risk of passing it on to others.
• When will I get my results?

The lab needs a little time to do the analysis.

• You'll usually get your results between 2 and 5 days after your blood is taken.
• We'll let you know your results directly, and if anything else needs checking, we'll tell you what to do next.