The Grundy County Health Department of Trenton will offer Hepatitis C virus antibody testing to observe Hepatitis Awareness Month in May. Rapid Hepatitis C testing will be done May 17th at a cost of $20.00
The health department reports that Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver, and most individuals infected develop a chronic or lifelong infection. Most individuals with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected, as symptoms can take decades to develop. Over time, chronic Hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver disease, failure, and cancer. There is no vaccine for the infection, but treatments are available.
The health department notes the only way to know if someone has the infection is through testing. The rapid test requires a finger stick to collect a blood sample, and test results are known in about 20 to 40 minutes. A positive Hepatitis C antibody test means a person has been infected with the virus, and additional testing necessary.
The Grundy County Health Department recommends certain groups of individuals be tested, including those who were born from 1945 to 1965 or to a mother with Hepatitis C, have received donated blood or organs before 1992, have ever injected drugs, have liver disease or HIV, have abnormal liver tests or disease, have been exposed to blood from someone who has Hepatitis C, or are on hemodialysis.
Contact the health department to schedule an appointment on May 17th at 660-359-4196.
