Hep C Testing in Port St. Lucie Florida
Free HEP C Testing, Treatment & Prevention Services
Hep C Care - Port St. Lucie FL
Hepatitis C Testing in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It’s a blood-borne virus, which is primarily transmitted through infected blood. This can happen in various ways, such as using drug needles that others have used, getting a tattoo or piercing with unsterilized needles or receiving a blood transfusion from a donor who has hepatitis C. Mothers can also pass this infection onto their children during childbirth. No matter what the cause, if you suspect that you have been exposed to hepatitis C, it’s important to get tested.
Hepatitis C is curable in most cases, so if you have the condition, help is available in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. At LifeLine Health, we specialize in providing comprehensive testing for a wide range of STDs and diseases. Our free hepatitis C testing allows you to get screened easily and take the next steps forward for treatment.
How Do You Know if You Have Hepatitis C?
The only way to find out if you have hepatitis C with certainty is to get tested at a reputable medical practice. The treatment provider will draw your blood and test it in one of two methods. These methods will allow the provider to determine whether you currently have hepatitis C and recommend the right treatment options for your unique case.
There are symptoms you may have with hepatitis C, but not everyone experiences the same symptoms. Some people only have mild symptoms and have no idea they are carrying hepatitis C. If you believe you may have been exposed to the infection, it’s always best to get tested and find out.
Hepatitis C is usually curable, and getting treatment is vital to help you avoid serious complications, such as liver scarring or liver failure.
Around 30% of people who contract hepatitis C naturally get rid of the virus within the first six months. The remaining 70% of people with the infection develop chronic hepatitis C, and 15% of those individuals have a risk of developing cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring) within 20 years.
Although the statistics may make you uncomfortable, you should never delay getting tested for fear of the result. It’s always better to know your status and receive treatment. Even if you have chronic hepatitis C, treatment can slow down its progression and potentially save you from having life-long and irreversible liver damage.
Testing is fast and only takes a few minutes. And most importantly, it can save your life.
Signs You Might Have Hepatitis C
There are various hepatitis C symptoms you may experience, and these signs worsen the longer the infection goes untreated.
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Dark-colored urine
- Jaundice (skin and eyes appear yellow)
Understanding Hepatitis C Testing
Blood tests are the gold standard for diagnosing hepatitis C. A blood test allows treatment providers to analyze your blood for the virus. If it’s present in your blood, then they’ll confirm you have the condition as well as diagnose the severity of your case.
Two main types of blood tests can diagnose hepatitis C: an antibody test and an RNA test.
Antibody Testing
Antibodies are white blood cells that your body produces to fight off an infection. Since hepatitis C is an infection that affects your liver, your body will produce specialized cells to try to get rid of the infection.
The antibody test, also known as the ELISA screen, detects any antibodies in your blood, but it doesn’t determine whether you have a current infection. Someone can have a positive hepatitis C antibody screening and not currently be infected. This means they have been exposed to the virus at some point, and it may no longer be active. If your antibody test comes back positive, the next step will be performing an RNA test.
RNA Testing
A hepatitis C RNA test detects the presence of hepatitis C viral particles in the blood. Unlike the antibody test, the RNA test determines whether or not a person currently has an infection.
The results of a hepatitis C RNA test usually say “detected” or “not detected.”
If your body currently has hepatitis C RNA, then the next steps involve assessing how the virus has impacted your liver, the severity of your infection and coming up with a treatment plan.
The sooner you get tested for hepatitis C, the higher your chances are of a successful long-term recovery. People who delay getting tested or receiving treatment can have life-long liver complications, chronic hepatitis C illness and a higher risk of liver cancer or liver failure.
Testing as soon as you believe you may have been exposed is the fastest way to get treatment, but it’s never too late to reach out. The best thing you can do is receive a diagnosis and learn about your treatment options.
What Happens if the Hepatitis C Test Is Positive?
If you visit LifeLine Health, we will let you know your results and offer personalized guidance on what to do next. Treatment for hepatitis C requires customized care as each patient is unique and may have other health issues that impact the types of treatment they can receive.
Additionally, the type of hepatitis C infection you have will impact your treatment options. The approach to treating acute, chronic and end-stage hepatitis C all differ.
Getting Treatment for Acute Hepatitis C
Acute infections typically take place within the first six months of exposure. Some people experience no symptoms during this time, but other people begin to develop signs like feeling tired throughout the day no matter how much they sleep, not feeling hungry, having a dark color to their urine and noticing the whites of their eyes turning yellow.
Acute hepatitis C treatment generally involves direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), which the FDA approved in 2013. DAA medications target the viral cells of hepatitis C to stop them from multiplying. This can eventually eliminate them from your body and stop the infection from damaging your liver.
DAAs are usually prescribed for eight to 12 weeks and have a high success rate. In most acute cases, this is the only type of treatment you’ll need to cure hepatitis C.
Treating Chronic Hepatitis C
Chronic cases of hepatitis C can be more difficult to manage because the patient already has liver damage that may not be reversible. In addition to treating the infection itself, doctors want to focus on addressing the liver, diagnosing its damage and doing what they can to prevent further deterioration.
DAAs can still be effective at targeting the virus for patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, if their infection has caused them to develop liver disease, then they will need additional lifestyle counseling and possibly prescription medications to manage the condition.
Liver disease can be curable in early stages, but more advanced cases with cirrhosis may require ongoing medication or, in severe cases, a liver transplant. To avoid serious life-threatening complications, getting treatment as soon as possible is crucial.
If a person develops liver disease from hepatitis C, they will likely need to have additional tests throughout their life that diagnose the level of damage. There are various liver function tests that can help a doctor understand your unique condition and develop the right treatment plan.
What Is Advanced Hepatitis C?
Advanced hepatitis C can cause end-stage liver disease, a serious and incurable condition. The hepatitis virus damages the liver over years, leading to long-term inflammation and the development of hardened collagen that forms scars.
Cirrhosis is the permanent scarring of the liver, which prevents the organ from filtering out toxins. This causes waste to build up in the body, which can cause serious illness and organ failure.
A liver transplant is the only treatment for end-stage liver disease. The goal of early hepatitis C testing is to help as many people as possible avoid cirrhosis and serious health complications.
How Long Does It Take to Get Testing Results?
A standard antibody test can take one to two weeks to get results, but rapid testing can deliver results in 15 to 30 minutes. Rapid RNA tests can also provide a result within an hour in most cases.
Different factors affect turnaround times, such as laboratory workload, the type of test and rapid test availability. In any case, getting tested as soon as possible drastically increases your chance of a positive outcome and long-term wellness.
While most cases of hepatitis C are not diagnosed immediately, you can find out if you have the infection within a week. Turning to a professional company like ours ensures you get access to the best testing available at little to no cost.
How Long Does It Take for Hepatitis C to Show Up in Blood?
If you test for hepatitis C too soon, it will not appear in antibody or RNA tests. RNA tests will be able to detect hepatitis C infections before antibody tests, so in cases where exposure is highly likely, you can request this type of diagnostic test instead.
Most cases of hepatitis C will be detectable in RNA tests within one to two weeks following exposure. Remember that it can take 8 to 11 weeks for hepatitis C antibodies to be detectable in blood tests.
Tips for Preventing Hepatitis C
As a bloodborne illness, hepatitis C is passed through sexual practices and unsafe needle usage. To protect yourself, the best thing you can do is ensure you are never exchanging needles with anyone, reusing syringes that others have used or engaging in unsafe sexual practices that could expose you to the virus. You should also avoid sharing any items that come in contact with your body, such as nail clippers, razors and toothbrushes.
Additionally, you should always investigate a tattoo shop or piercing parlor before booking a service. Reputable, clean establishments will only use clean needles and never share them among clients.
Individuals who work in healthcare settings should take extra precautions to avoid exposure to potentially contagious medical equipment or laboratory samples. Always follow the protocol for syringe disposal to keep yourself safe.
Schedule Free Hepatitis C Testing in Port Saint Lucie, Florida
You can look for local healthcare and STD clinics that offer free testing nearby. If you would prefer to work with specialists, visit us in Port Saint Lucie.
LifeLine Health is your go-to hepatitis C resource, offering testing, diagnosis, and resources to help Floridians stay healthy. Learn more about testing on our site.
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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
