
Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
She said after blood to blood contact with someone that is positive for hepititis the negative person can test in one week but the virus can be hidden 3 to 6 monts or more before showing positive. She then said it is also best if you test early and test up to a year to be sure after quistionable contact with someone positive. Unfortuneatly it can hide for more than a year in some cases. The RN also said it would be good to have a partner tested for my protection to in case the other person tests and is another gyno type than me. You could still contact another genotype which may compound the problem I have already having hep c 1a.
We do this to set a baseline, making sure the person isn't already showing antibodies from previous exposure. So taking two tests is pretty normal for the person who thinks they've been exposed - one at point of concern, and then four months later.