Private Hepatitis C test

Hepatitis C is a virus that is carried in blood and body fluids like semen and vaginal secretions. The virus can infect the liver, causing inflammation and illness. In some people, Hepatitis C can become chronic, which can cause liver damage and increase your risk of developing liver cancer.

Many people exposed to Hep C won’t have any symptoms. Symptoms often only develop when there is significant liver damage; these include:

• Flu-like illness, including fever, aches and feeling tired and unwell.
• Reduced appetite.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Jaundice, which is a yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes.

Hepatitis C is a very infectious disease. It is found in blood and body fluids like semen and vaginal fluid. The main ways the virus spreads in the UK is by blood to blood contact:

• Sharing needles and injecting equipment.
• Tattoos or piercings with contaminated equipment.
• A pregnant mother can spread the infection to her baby.
• Sharing contaminated toothbrushes or razors.
• Vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom, although this is less common in the UK.

If you are worried that you have Hepatitis C, if a partner or close contact has the infection, or if you inject drugs, it's crucial to get a test.

To be accurate, the test should be taken at least one month after exposure to Hepatitis C. Harley Street Sexual Health also offers a test that detects infection at an earlier stage. It can show results as early as ten days, but it can miss some infections, so the doctors will always arrange a follow-up test after a month.

Harley Street Sexual Health offers Hepatitis C testing by a blood test. The doctor will take a sample and send it to a specialist laboratory for analysis.

There are two tests available. One detects the presence of the Hepatitis C antigen, confirming whether you currently have the infection. This shows results as early as ten days after infection. The second test looks for antibodies, proving that you have been infected with Hepatitis C in the past.

Harley Street Sexual Health provides both standard and fast-track Hepatitis C screening. One of the clinic’s experienced consultants will email you the results as soon as they are received and reviewed. This takes less than 48 hours for the standard screening and just 6 hours for the expedited service.

If your result shows Hepatitis C infection, a consultant will contact you to discuss treatment and arrange a referral to a hepatitis specialist.

The consultants at Harley Street Sexual Health have close links with medical colleagues specialising in liver disease and Hepatitis C infection. They can refer you for expert assessment and treatment.

Early diagnosis and effective treatment can help prevent liver damage and reduce the risk of the virus spreading. Hepatitis C is treated with medicines that stop the virus from multiplying. The latest medications have revolutionised therapy; now, more than 90% of people with hepatitis C can be cured.

You should avoid sex until you and your partner have completed treatment. You should not have vaginal, anal and oral sex, even with a condom, to prevent reinfection.

You can protect against Hepatitis B infection by using a condom during any oral, anal or vaginal sex. Cleaning any shared sex toys or using a condom can also help.

You should avoid sharing injection equipment, razors and toothbrushes.