Hep C Testing in Miami Florida
Free HEP C Testing, Treatment & Prevention Services
Hep C Care - Miami FL
Hep C Testing in Miami, Florida
Hepatitis C (hep C) is a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It attacks the liver and often does not produce any symptoms during the initial infection period. Early detection can significantly improve hep C outcomes, so Miami residents should get tested if they are at risk of exposure to HCV.
Hepatitis C
Hep C is liver inflammation caused by HCV. The virus can be either acute or chronic and range from mild illness to a lifelong health condition, including both cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 50 million people have the disease globally and that there are approximately 1 million new infections annually.
Florida has among the highest rates of hep C in the U.S. It is among seven states that contribute to more than 50% of new hep C cases nationwide. As many as 200,000 people in Florida currently have hep C, and Miami-Dade County has a notably high rate at more than 280 cases per 100,000 residents.
What Is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Hep C?
Acute hep C is a short-term infection, whereas chronic hep C is a long-term infection. If HCV is present in the blood for six months or less, a person has acute hep C. Beyond six months, the virus is chronic, and without diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to liver damage and other severe symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Hep C?
One of the challenges hep C presents is that there are often no symptoms early on. A person can have no symptoms during the acute phase and even as they progress into the chronic phase. When there are symptoms, the manifestations can be the same whether the person is in the acute or chronic stage. These can include:
- Fever
- Decreased appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mild flu-like symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
If a person has chronic hep C, there may be scarring of the liver, which is cirrhosis. Cirrhosis and other serious liver conditions can lead to a wide range of additional symptoms, including:
- Swelling
- Palm redness
- Abdominal pain
- Cognitive decline
- Spider angiomas (small, red blood vessels on the skin’s surface)
- Increased bleeding risk
How Do People Contract Hep C?
Hep C is a bloodborne virus. The WHO emphasizes that the virus transfers primarily through blood-to-blood contact. Injection drug use remains the most common risk factor for HCV infection in North America. People who use drugs are at a higher risk, particularly when sharing injection equipment, which increases the likelihood of the virus being transmitted.
Transmission is not limited to recreational drug use. In healthcare settings, there is an increased risk of infection due to a lack of safety practices, including improper sterilization of medical equipment and accidental needle pricks.
Pregnant mothers can also pass hep C to their unborn children via their blood. Mothers do not pass the infection via their breast milk, saliva, and other means. Likewise, while you can become infected through sexual activity, it still requires blood contact. You will not get the disease, for instance, from kissing, hugging, or sharing food and drinks with an infected person.
Is Hep C Curable or Treatable?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been safe and highly effective treatments available for hep C since 2014. Early treatment can avoid serious health complications. While doctors can treat hep C at any stage of the disease, that does not necessarily mean there are treatments or cures for any ancillary health conditions. For instance, a person with hep C who develops cirrhosis may require additional treatment for liver damage, even after the virus itself is cleared from the body.
The most common treatment is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA). DAAs are typically administered as a relatively small pill taken orally. This medication can cure more than 95% of all hep C cases in eight to 12 weeks. What remains the largest problem in managing hep C is that most infected people go undiagnosed, and even among the diagnosed, few receive the treatment within a year of diagnosis.
Is There a Vaccine for Hep C?
There are vaccines available for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and the CDC recommends vaccination for the entire population. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination for hep C yet. People should avoid activities that expose them to the virus and seek medical assistance if they believe they have been exposed.
Is There Testing Available for Hep C?
There are several effective testing methodologies for hep C, and testing is the only way to confirm reliably whether a person has the virus. The CDC also establishes clinical testing guidelines, which help ensure that health professionals and organizations test similar groups and perform testing in a consistent manner whether in Miami or elsewhere in the U.S.
Who Should Get Tested for Hep C?
Approximately 75-85% of people with hep C demonstrate no symptoms at all. Without testing, their health can worsen, and they can unknowingly transmit the disease to others. Testing is imperative, and individuals should seek testing if there is the slightest chance of exposure rather than risk the disease going undiagnosed. Likewise, medical professionals should err on the side of caution in recommending hep C testing.
The CDC advises screening for all people aged 18 and up at least once in their lifetimes. Primary care physicians will often recommend hep C screening based on medical histories and discussions they had with individuals, such as concerning their sexual activities. The CDC also recommends testing for pregnant women at least once during each pregnancy.
Anyone who received clotting factor concentrate before 1987 should seek screening even if they had been previously tested. Likewise, anyone who received blood or organ donations before July 1992 should seek screening even if they had been previously tested. In both cases, the medical industry in the U.S. updated procedures to prevent the transmission of hep C.
Even if a person has already sought hep C screening, the CDC recommends an additional test and perhaps subsequent screening in certain cases. This recommendation applies to people who:
- Are on hemodialysis
- May be exposed professionally
- Have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Inject or have injected drugs for recreational purposes
- Are born to a mother who has or had an HCV infection
- Have liver disease or receive abnormal liver screening results
Testing Options for Hep C
There are several different tests available for hep C. Often, a medical professional will recommend these in stages based on the results from previous steps.
Antibody Test
Typically, the initial screening involves an antibody test, which is a blood screening that reveals whether you have ever had an HCV infection. For this reason, you may see it referred to as an “anti-HCV test.” It works because the immune system releases certain antibodies into the bloodstream when someone is infected. Those antibodies remain in the bloodstream even after the HCV infection is gone.
Rapid anti-HCV testing is available and generally provides results within 20-30 minutes. Standard lab-based blood screening can provide results within several days to several weeks. A non-reactive or negative test result indicates no evidence of antibodies in the bloodstream.
Note that if you suspect recent exposure, you will need another test in the future for final confirmation. It usually takes eight to 11 weeks for antibodies to be present after exposure. A reactive or positive test indicates that there are antibodies in the bloodstream. This does not mean that you have hep C but that HCV was present in your blood at some point.
If the option is available, a medical professional will generally recommend an anti-HCV test as it is the quickest way to get a non-reactive result. That said, rapid testing is not as comprehensive and may be more prone to false positives, so you will likely need a lab-based test as a follow-up if you receive a positive result.
Nucleic Acid Test
If a person receives a positive antibody result through lab-based screening, the next step is a nucleic acid test (NAT) for HCV RNA. RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, and its presence indicates an active HCV infection. Another name for this screening is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. It is a molecular test that can reveal RNA associated with HCV and many other infectious diseases.
As with the full antibody test, a medical professional will draw blood and send it to a lab for analysis. If the result is negative, you are not infected. The virus was present at one point but not any longer and perhaps cleared spontaneously without treatment. If the result is positive, the virus is active in your blood, and the next step is to move on to the treatment phase.
At-Home Testing Kits
At-home testing kits are available through local pharmacies and other retailers. While they can be effective for periodic screening, be mindful that the CDC recommends seeking professional medical help if you suspect exposure. At-home tests are similar to the rapid tests available from many clinics but without professional guidance. If you get a positive at-home test result, a medical professional will probably recommend rapid testing to rule out a false positive.
Ancillary Testing
If you receive a positive NAT test, additional testing may be necessary. There may be additional blood tests for hepatitis B, HIV, blood clotting, and kidney health. A doctor may advise testing of liver function and elasticity and recommend a biopsy to rule out liver cancer.
Is Hep C Testing in Miami Confidential?
All medical testing within the U.S. is confidential. The fact that you sought testing and any results is private information and is not shareable without your explicit consent. This is true whether you go to a public health clinic or receive testing through a private healthcare provider. Confidentiality applies to any insurance providers as well. Data related to your case may be reported for tracking by public health agencies, but it will remain anonymous.
Does Hep C Testing Ever Result in False Positives?
The rate of false positives for hep C antibody testing ranges from 10%-22%. That’s why it’s imperative to follow up at-home testing with rapid in-office testing and those tests with in-lab screening. The false positive rate for hep C NAT is less than 1%.
Finding Hep C Testing in Miami, Florida
If you require hep C testing in Miami-Dade County or a surrounding area, LifeLine Health Florida is an excellent choice. Our organization specializes in hepatitis C prevention, testing, and treatment. In addition, we connect our clients with any support services they may need. Our goal is to deliver a one-stop medical home where Floridians and visitors can receive exceptional care and attention regardless of their financial status, social standing, cultural background, or sexual orientation.
To learn more about hep C testing in the Greater Miami area, contact us via our online form. Our team will be happy to answer any questions and get you set up with an appointment.
Our Three Easy Steps
1
2
3
- Complete This Form
- Make An Appointment
- Receive Treatment
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
