Screening and diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C infection in adults aged ≥18 years

HCV: hepatitis C virus; MSM: men who have sex with men; RNA: ribonucleic acid.
* These include new-onset jaundice and markedly elevated transaminases.
¶ For pregnant individuals, we suggest screening during each pregnancy, regardless of risk factors. For pregnant individuals who are actively using injection drugs, we repeat screening shortly prior to delivery, even if they have been screened earlier in the pregnancy.
Δ For patients on hemodialysis or with a severely immunocompromising condition (eg, advanced HIV, organ transplantation), HCV RNA can be checked at the same time as HCV antibody testing because of concern for a false-negative antibody. In such cases, a positive HCV RNA confirms the diagnosis of HCV infection, whereas a negative HCV RNA rejects it.