Prevention and Testing

There is no vaccine available to protect you from infection with hepatitis C. The best way to be protected is to avoid exposure to blood that may contain hepatitis C.

Consider getting tested for hepatitis C if you have any of these risk factors now or in the past:

• sharing or reusing other people’s injecting equipment
• tattooing and piercing with non-sterile equipment
• men who have sex with men (who are HIV positive). The risk is higher if one or more partners has HIV, or if the sex involves blood-to-blood contact, of if they have other STIs, or if recreational drugs are used.
• contaminated medical procedures, prior to 1990
• medical procedures overseas
• migrants from countries with high levels of hep C

Hepatitis NSW provides information on the transmission and prevention of hepatitis C

For information on where to access sterile injecting equipment and the Needle and Syringe Program

Testing

A blood test can be taken by your GP or sexual health service to see if you have ever been or are currently infected with hepatitis C.

Some people may be able to access hepatitis C testing through Dried Blood Spot testing.

The Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test is a new, free, easy, private and accurate way to test for HIV and Hepatitis C in Aboriginal People and people who have ever injected drugs. The kit is ordered online and once received it involves taking a few drops of blood that you collect from yourself at home. You return the test in a reply paid envelope and receive the result by phone, text or email. You don't need to go to a clinic or a doctor to do this test.