Hepatitis C: transmission, prevention and key facts

Essentials

Blood-borne liver infection, which may become chronic and cause cirrhosis or cancer.

Agent: Hepatitis C virus
Transmission or exposure: Blood and fluids · Materno-infant transmission

Situation and vulnerability

Sharing injection equipment and using non-sterile medical equipment are important exposure situations.

Signs and limits of their interpretation

The infection can remain silent for a long time. Fatigue, digestive disorders or jaundice are possible, but do not distinguish hepatitis C from other causes. Early diagnosis helps to organize management before certain complications of the liver.

Diagnosis and monitoring

Positive antibody test indicates contact with virus. The search for viral RNA is then used to check for an active infection. Antibodies may remain positive after the infection has disappeared, so the balance sheet is not limited to this single result.

Check these benchmarks in the WHO reference →

Prevention and care

There is no hepatitis C vaccine. Antivirals can cure infection; screening must lead to appropriate management.

Practical issues

Does a positive antibody prove an active infection?

No. A search for the virus is necessary to distinguish an active infection from a previous infection. A cure does not protect against a new infection.

Does healing protect him from a new infection?

A cure does not prevent reinfection during a new exposure. Safety of equipment and prevention remain useful.

Preparing for an exchange with a professional

Full account of antibody and RNA tests
History of antiviral treatment
Possible exposure to blood and liver balance

Bring the full minutes and dates. This information facilitates evaluation; its collection must not delay an urgent appeal.

Individual decisionThe choice of a test, treatment or prevention depends on the local situation and recommendations. In case of distress, call 911.

A travel preparation kit and unreadable medical documents in a bright setting. AI-generated illustration. — **Prevention illustration — Hépatite C** — A travel preparation kit and unreadable medical documents in a bright setting.
Image generated by artificial intelligence. AI illustration; it does not depict a disease, biological agent or diagnosis.

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Related fact sheets

These sheets share ways or contexts of exhibition in our catalogue. This reconciliation does not establish a differential diagnosis.

Compare Hepatitis C with associated sheets →

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In practiceObserve and understand

Hepatitis C: antibodies and RNA answer different questions

Antibody screening identifies possible past exposure to HCV. RNA testing checks whether the virus is present when the sample is taken.

Hepatitis C: antibodies and RNA answer different questions — explanations and limits
Report item	What it helps explain	Question to ask
Reactive antibodies	They may persist after recovery and do not by themselves prove current infection.	Did the laboratory perform an RNA test on the same sample?
RNA detected	This indicates current infection and leads to assessment for treatment.	What care pathway and liver assessment are planned?
Recent exposure, negative antibodies	Antibodies may not yet be detectable. The exposure date may justify RNA testing.	Does the contact date change the test or follow-up needed?

References for these explanations

CDC · Hepatitis C — testing ↗

Sources consulted on 14/10/2026. Examples and diagrams are educational; the original guidance defines its scope.