Hepatitis C virus (HCV): Screening and testing for health professionals

Download the alternative format
(PDF format, 105 KB, 1 page)

Hepatitis C is often asymptomatic

Offer testing to anyone with a risk factor or clinical indication.

Risk factors:

Clinical indications:

Take an active approach to testing

Testing for HCV: the diagnosis of HCV infection requires 2 tests.

  1. The first test is the hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV):
    • a negative anti-HCV test result indicates no HCV infection
    • a positive anti-HCV test result indicates current or resolved HCV infection, which requires further testing with a second test called the hepatitis C ribonucleic acid test
  2. The second test is the hepatitis C ribonucleic acid test (HCV RNA):
    • a negative HCV RNA result indicates no HCV infection (resolved HCV infection)
    • a positive HCV RNA test result indicates current HCV infection

Hepatitis C is curable

Link to care: interferon-free direct acting antiviral treatments have a sustained virologic response >90%.

For more information, please visit Canada.ca and search 'hepatitis C for health professionals'.

Page details

Date modified: