What Increases Your Risk

Certain factors may increase your risk of becoming infected with the hepatitis C virus. Just because you are at risk for getting hepatitis C does not mean that you have the virus. But if you are at risk, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.

Risk factors you can control include:

• Sharing needles and other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) used to inject drugs.
• Having your ears or another body part pierced, getting a tattoo, or having acupuncture with needles that have not been sterilized properly. The risk of getting hepatitis C in these ways is very low.
• Working in a health care environment where you are exposed to fresh blood or where you may be pricked with a used needle. Following standard precautions for health care workers makes this risk very low.

Risk factors you cannot control include:

• Having had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. Starting in 1992, all donated blood and organs were screened for hepatitis C.
• Having been exposed to unsafe practices for giving shots, such as reusing needles. This occurs in some developing countries.
• Needing to have your blood filtered by a machine (hemodialysis) because your kidneys cannot filter your blood.
• Being born to a mother who has hepatitis C. The risk of passing the virus to a child is greater if the mother is also infected with HIV.

Should I be tested for hepatitis B and C?