Hep C Testing in Hialeah Florida
Free HEP C Testing, Treatment & Prevention Services
Hep C Care - Hialeah FL
Hepatitis C Testing in Hialeah Florida
Hepatitis C is an illness caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This virus spreads through blood-to-blood transmission. When blood infected with HCV comes into contact with uninfected blood, the virus may spread. Left untreated, hepatitis C can cause serious damage to the liver. Unfortunately, many people don’t get tested because of the myths and stigma surrounding this virus. This testing is critical to managing and preventing the spread of hepatitis C. At LifeLine Health Florida, we offer our Hialeah clients accurate, confidential hepatitis C testing.
What You Need to Know About Hepatitis C
If you’ve been exposed to hepatitis C, you should know that you are not alone. Hepatitis C is one of the most common forms of viral hepatitis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2017 to 2020, between 2.4 and 4 million people had hepatitis C. In 2022, the rate of people contracting acute hepatitis C declined. Since people with the virus may not experience symptoms, people at higher risk for contracting it should get tested regularly.
Types of Hepatitis C
There are two types of hepatitis C: acute and chronic. In the first six months after exposure, you may have acute hepatitis C. This type is often mild. You may have few or no symptoms. In the acute phase of the virus, people may experience symptoms like fatigue, nausea, muscle aches, and jaundice. These symptoms often mimic other viruses. Some people may not realize they have hepatitis C. They may mistake their symptoms for seasonal flu or other viruses. Approximately 20% to 35% of people infected with hepatitis C will recover from the virus without developing the chronic form of the disease.
If hepatitis C doesn’t clear up during the first six months after infection, you may develop the chronic version of the condition. Over time, hepatitis C can cause serious damage to the liver. People with this chronic condition may experience more serious symptoms, including:
- Bruising and bleeding easily
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Itchy skin
- Dark-colored urine
- Swelling in the abdomen and legs from fluid buildup
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure if left untreated. If you are experiencing symptoms of hepatitis C, you should get tested for the virus.
Should You Get Tested for Hepatitis C?
The myths about hepatitis C may stop some people from getting tested. Many people don’t believe they are at risk for contracting the infection.
Some people believe they are not at risk for hepatitis C if they don’t use intravenous drugs. People who use intravenous drugs may think they are safe as long as they don’t share needles. These myths can add to the stigma around hep C. People may not realize they should schedule a hepatitis C test.
High-Risk Groups
People who use intravenous drugs should get tested. Even if you inject drugs infrequently or don’t share needles, you should get tested for hepatitis C regularly. If you’ve had sexual contact with someone who is at high risk for hepatitis C, it’s a good idea to get tested.
Employees in certain professions should consider regular hepatitis C testing. Healthcare professionals and tattoo artists are at higher risk for contracting the virus because they are exposed to blood daily. Accidental cuts and needlesticks can expose these professionals to the virus. Anyone accidentally exposed to blood without proper protective equipment should get tested for hepatitis C and other bloodborne illnesses.
People who live or work in settings where large groups of people are housed together are also at greater risk for hep C exposure. A 2023 study showed that hepatitis C infection rates were nine times higher among people in U.S. correctional facilities. If you lived or worked in a correctional institute in the past six months, you should get tested for the virus.
Before 1992, widespread testing for hepatitis C was not available. People who received an organ transplant or blood transfusion before 1992 should get tested. Senior citizens and people with compromised immune systems should also ask about hepatitis C testing.
The CDC also recommends that everyone age 18 or older get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. Pregnant women should also schedule a hepatitis C test during every pregnancy. The virus can pass from a mother to their baby during pregnancy, so testing during pregnancy is especially important.
If you are a member of a high-risk group, you should schedule a hep C test even if you don’t have symptoms.
What Happens During a Hepatitis C Test?
Some clients worry that testing will be painful, time-consuming, and expensive. Testing for hepatitis C is easy and often painless. If you’ve ever been tested for HIV, you can expect a similar experience during your hepatitis C test.
To test for hepatitis C, a medical professional will draw a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. You may feel a pinch as the nurse or phlebotomist inserts and removes the needle. Your arm may be a little sore or develop a bruise where the needle entered the vein.
Types of Hepatitis C Tests
If you are at high risk for hepatitis C, our medical team will recommend a hepatitis C screening test. This test tells us if you have ever had hepatitis C by looking for HCV antibodies. When someone contracts the virus that causes hepatitis C, their immune system begins to produce antibodies to fight the virus. Even after you clear the virus, the antibodies remain in your bloodstream. The HCV screening test looks for these antibodies. A positive result means that you’ve had hepatitis C at one point. This test won’t tell us when or how you contracted the virus. It also won’t show if you have an active infection.
The HCV antibody test is a rapid test. Our medical team can report the results in as little as 30 minutes. In some cases, we may perform a lab test. The lab-based antibody test takes longer.
If the HCV antibody test returns a positive result, our medical team will conduct a nucleic acid test on your blood sample. The nucleic acid test (NAT), or PCR test, looks for RNA molecules from the hepatitis C virus in your bloodstream. If the NAT test is positive for RNA, you have an active case of hepatitis C. A positive antibody test with a negative NAT test means you had hepatitis C in the past. We may recommend additional tests to measure the amount or viral load of hepatitis C in your system. Other tests can determine the genotype of the virus. These tests can help healthcare professionals decide on the best treatment for your case.
It can take several days to several weeks to receive the results from the nucleic acid test for hepatitis C. During this time, you may feel anxious. Our team at LifeLine Health Florida is here to offer you the support you need.
Treating a Hepatitis C Infection
If you test positive for an active hepatitis C infection, you may feel a wide range of emotions. Anxiety, fear, shock, and anger are all normal feelings. Some clients say they feel relief to know the cause of their symptoms. No matter what you are feeling, you don’t have to deal with this diagnosis alone. Our team can help you understand what happens next. We can discuss treatment options that include medication and lifestyle changes.
Treating Hepatitis C with Anti-Virals
As a first line of treatment, our medical team may prescribe anti-viral drugs. These drugs, known as direct-acting antivirals (DAA), have a 95% success rate. Some clients report minor side effects such as:
- Fatigue
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Rash
- Diarrhea
Many clients take these antiviral medications for 8 to 12 weeks. We also may recommend additional vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. In some cases, our medical team may recommend testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Lifestyle Changes
To ensure the best possible outcome after a hepatitis C diagnosis, our team may recommend certain lifestyle changes. These changes can help your medication work better and protect your liver from damage.
One of the best lifestyle changes you can make is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. A diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean meat can improve your liver function. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can prevent fatty liver disease, a condition where fat deposits build up in your liver. Fatty liver disease and hepatitis C can increase your chances of developing scars on your liver.
Using alcohol during or after hepatitis C can also cause cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. If you drink alcohol during an active hepatitis C infection, you may have a more difficult time eliminating the virus. You may forget to take your antiviral medicine, or the medicine may be less effective.
Moderate exercise and adequate sleep are also important for someone recovering from hepatitis C. Exercise can help you lose weight and lower your blood sugar. Sleep helps your body heal. While you sleep, your immune system works hard to fight the virus. It also helps you recover from fatigue caused by the virus or medication.
Additional Tests for Hepatitis C
If you have chronic hepatitis C, our medical team may recommend further testing on your liver. Since hepatitis C can cause long-term damage to your liver, monitoring your liver function is important. Liver blood tests measure the enzymes and proteins in your liver. These levels can indicate the presence of inflammation or liver damage. Ultrasounds or imaging tests can help your medical team spot any liver damage or scarring. They also may recommend a biopsy of your liver.
If You Live in Hialeah, Contact LifeLine Health Florida
Early detection is critical for treating hepatitis C. At LifeLine Health Florida, we made it our mission to break down barriers to virus testing. We connect Florida’s underserved and at-risk communities with confidential hepatitis C testing. Our team members offer personalized care customized to each client. We understand that clients coming in for a hepatitis C test have many questions. Our healthcare professionals take the time to ensure every client feels comfortable and safe.
Contact the LifeLine Health Florida team today and schedule an appointment for hepatitis C testing.
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Most Asked
Is HIV treatable?
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is primarily transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are through:
Unprotected sexual contact: HIV can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs: HIV can be transmitted when needles or other equipment that has been used by an HIV-positive person is reused by someone else.
From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding: HIV can be transmitted from a mother living with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant: HIV can be transmitted through blood transfusions or organ transplants with infected blood or organs.
It’s important to note that HIV is not transmitted through everyday activities like hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils.
It’s also worth mentioning that, although the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is lower than that of other sexual behaviors, it is still possible to transmit the virus by this way.
I am pregnant and HIV positive. Will my child be born with HIV?
If you are pregnant and living with HIV, it’s important to seek medical care right away. With appropriate medical care and treatment, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be significantly reduced. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most effective method for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. ART can suppress the virus in the mother’s body, lowering the risk of the virus being passed on to the baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant and HIV-positive, you’ll be closely monitored by a team of healthcare professionals, including an obstetrician, an HIV specialist and a pediatrician. They will work together to ensure the best possible care for you and your baby. They may advise you to start the ART treatment or adjust the current regimen during pregnancy. This is necessary to achieve an undetectable viral load, which is critical in minimizing the chance of mother-to-child transmission. It’s also important to know that there is a small chance that your child may still become infected despite all the preventative measures. Therefore it’s important to test the baby for HIV shortly after birth and continue monitoring the baby’s HIV status after delivery. It’s worth noting that mother-to-child transmission of HIV is rare in developed countries due to improved treatment and awareness, as long as the mother is diagnosed and treated early.
Listen To What Our Patients Say…
Cristina Anderson
I am thankful to the nice people at Lifeline Health. I was so scared when I found out I had been exposed. They guided me and made me feel so at ease. I have not had an issues and I know it’s because I went to Lifeline Health first.
Juan Bustamonte
