Question

[WarChief77]

What happens of you work in the medical field and test positive for hep c?  Could it affect you remaining employed?

[Lynn K]

That would be a violation of the Americans with disabilities act

https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-c-basics/hepatitis-c-workplace

Also see

https://lucindaporterrn.com/hepatitis-c-in-the-workplace-should-health-care-professionals-disclose/

[Lynn K]

And from the CDC FAQ about hep c for health care workers

“ Should HCV-infected health care personnel be restricted in their work?
There are no CDC recommendations to restrict a health care worker who is infected with HCV. The risk of transmission from an infected health care worker to a patient appears to be very low. All health care personnel, including those who are HCV positive, should follow a strict aseptic technique and Standard Precautions, including appropriate hand hygiene, use of protective barriers, and safe injection practices.”

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm#f4

[WarChief77]

Thank you very much for the response and info.  What exactly happens after you've been diagnosed?  Do you have to register with the health department or anything?  What, if anything, transpires after diagnosis?

[Lynn K]

Have you had only the hep c antibody test or have you had the HCV RNA by PCR test that confirms current infection?

I’m assuming your doctor will report a confirmed infection to the state health dept for data tracking purposes since they want to know how many cases they have of hep c along with other communicable illnesses heck they know how many flu cases there are or how many have been sickened by vaping. Don’t think it is by name.

What happens after your are diagnosed is you will have testing done for liver enzymes and probably a liver ultrasound. Also either a blood test called fibrosure or a test similar to an ultrasound called a fibroscan to estimate your liver stiffness to see if you have significant liver damage. Also a test for the genotype of hep c like 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b I think there are 16 genotypes of hep c. They need to know this to determine which treatment will be most effective on the genotype of hep c you are infected with. Next your doctor will prescribe one of the relatively new medicines that have been approved beginning in 2014 that can effectively cure hep c by taking either one pill or possible several pills for 12 or possible as few as 8 weeks. At the end of treatment you will no longer test positive for hep c but you will always test positive for hep c antibodies. Antibodies are produced by your bodies own immune system when it tries to fight an invading virus. Having antibodies only means you were once exposed to the hep c virus.

So anyway determine if you are infected, find out the extent of damage if any, get treated and be cured. Just like It is with many illnesses. With the introduction of the new generation of hep c meds which you may have seen advertised on TV like Harvoni or Epclusa there is Hope hep c can be eridicated as long as everyone infected gets treated.

Good luck