About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Fewer than half of people clear the virus on their own; most develop a lifelong infection that, untreated, can cause liver disease, liver failure and liver cancer.
HCV spreads through contact with infected blood — mainly shared drug equipment, and also at birth, through healthcare exposure, unlicensed tattoos or piercings, shared personal items and, less often, sex.
Symptoms
What to Watch For
- Many people have no symptoms
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
- Fever, joint pain and tiredness
- Dark urine or light-coloured stool
- Symptoms, if any, appear 2–12 weeks after infection
Test Options
How CARIGEN Tests
- HIV / Hep B / Hep C Panel — identification in a single panel