Frequently Asked Questions

• The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to be tested.
• Most people will get an antibody test. If this test shows you have come into contact with the hepatitis C virus, you will have a second test. The second test measures the amount of virus in your blood. This is called a viral load test. If this test result is positive, you have hepatitis C. 

• Ask your primary care provider
• Contact your local Public Health Unit
• Contact your local Community Health Centre
• Contact one of the Ontario Hepatitis C Teams
• Search the WhereTo directory
• Visit a Sexual Health Clinic
• Visit GetAKit.ca, (in partnership with participating Public Health Units)
• Withdrawal management and addictions services may also provide testing and treatment for hepatitis C.
• People who are incarcerated or in prison can ask the healthcare providers at their correctional facility for hepatitis C testing and treatment.

• Yes! If you have hepatitis C, you can be treated and cured.
• In the past, hepatitis C was harder to treat. Today, treatment has changed.
• Medication is very effective and can cure hepatitis C in eight to 12 weeks.

• Yes, you can get treated and cured if you are still using drugs.
• Hepatitis C medications work very well, even if you are currently using drugs.
• If you are using drugs, don’t wait! Treating hepatitis C now is good for your health and can prevent transmission to others.

• Yes. You can get hepatitis C again any time you are exposed to the virus. This is called reinfection.
• Medication works just as well to treat hepatitis C reinfection.
• Getting medication and being cured of hepatitis C infection does not protect you from future infection.
• If you have ongoing risk factors (e.g., injection drug use), you can lower your chances of being exposed to hepatitis C.

• Yes, hepatitis C can be cured. 
• Medication is very effective and can cure hepatitis C in eight to 12 weeks.

• Hepatitis C medication is available for all Ontarians.
• Talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner about getting treatment for hepatitis C.
• You can also connect to provider by clicking to cure.

• Treatment for hepatitis C uses direct-acting antiviral medication (DAA).
• Direct-acting antiviral medication (DAA) stops the hepatitis C virus from reproducing.
• Direct-acting antiviral medication (DAA) focuses only on the hepatitis C virus, which means fewer side effects for you.

• Yes! People in Ontario can get hepatitis C treatment at no cost.
• Depending on your situation, medication may be covered through government programs (the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, the Ontario Trillium Benefit Program, the Interim Federal Health Program, Non-Insured Health Benefits Program), private insurance, as well as patient support compassionate access programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Learn more.

• Yes, hepatitis C medication is very safe.
• Most people experience very few side-effects.

• Most people experience very few side-effects.
• Like all medication, some people may experience mild side effects that usually get better within a few weeks.
• Side effects can include headache, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea.
• If you are worried about side effects, it is important to keep taking your medication. Talk to your healthcare provider who can support you in managing side effects while you are on treatment. 

• No. A FibroScan is not required to start hepatitis C treatment in Ontario. 
• A FibroScan is a test that works like an ultrasound. It measures the stiffness or amount of scarring in the liver. A low liver stiffness means there is little scarring in the liver. A high liver stiffness means there is significant scarring (fibrosis or cirrhosis). 

Are there other ways to assess liver scarring? 

• Yes. A primary care provider can assess liver scarring using blood tests and information from your medical history. 

Will my hepatitis C treatment be delayed if I don’t get a FibroScan?

• No, it should not delay care or treatment. . 

If I don’t need a FibroScan to start hepatitis C treatment, why is my doctor asking me to get one?

• A healthcare provider may recommend you do a FibroScan if your blood test results are unclear. 

How much does a FibroScan cost?

• The cost of a FibroScan is NOT covered by OHIP.  
• Community or private clinics will ask you to pay out of pocket and fees can range from $75-$200, or more. 
• You can always ask your healthcare provider about the cost before agreeing to do the test.
• Sometimes, if you are seen at a hospital or a specialist clinic, you may not be asked to pay out of pocket.

What will happen if FibroScan test suggests there is cirrhosis in my liver?

• If a FibroScan (or other tests) suggest cirrhosis, you can still be treated for hepatitis C. During the treatment, you may need regular liver monitoring. If needed, you will be referred to a specialist who provides care to people with cirrhosis. 
• If you have liver scarring (cirrhosis), talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should continue having a liver ultrasound every six months to screen for liver cancer. Regular screening after hepatitis C is cured is covered by OHIP.

• If you are having trouble getting your prescription filled, first talk to the provider who wrote the prescription.
• Care coordinators and case managers can help navigate treatment coverage.
• Connect to the Ontario Hepatitis C Team in your area. Hepatitis C Teams are experts in supporting hepatitis C treatment access. 

• Hepatitis C can be passed on during pregnancy and childbirth.
• Hepatitis C treatment before pregnancy ensures no transmission to the baby.
• Doctors and healthcare providers recommend treating hepatitis C infection before you become pregnant.

• Right now, there are studies being done to see if hepatitis C treatment is safe to take during pregnancy.
• If you are pregnant and living with hepatitis C, talk to a healthcare provider about hepatitis C treatment in pregnancy.

If you do become pregnant while on hepatitis C treatment, talk to a healthcare provider.

• The risk of transmission for hepatitis C in pregnancy and childbirth is around 3% to 10% in each pregnancy.
• If you do have a baby while living with hepatitis C, your baby can be tested and treated. Viral load testing is recommended at two months of age.
• Treatment for hepatitis C is available for children age three and older.