News Details

County Public Health announces rapid Hepatitis C testing

April 17, 2015

SOLANO COUNTY – Solano County Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health is now offering Hepatitis C testing to its HIV patients in Vallejo and Fairfield.  The test is confidential and free, and results are available in 20-40 minutes.

Testing is offered at the following locations to those at risk for infection:

Solano County Family Health Services Clinic
365 Tuolumne Street, Vallejo
The second and fourth Thursday of each month from 5-7 p.m.

Solano County Family Health Services Clinic
2201 Courage Drive, Fairfield
The first and third Wednesday of each month from 5-7 p.m.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least half of the approximately 3 million people living with Hepatitis C remain unaware of their status. People infected with Hepatitis C often have no symptoms for many years. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, but treatment is available.

"The sooner you know you're infected with Hepatitis C, the sooner you can get treatment, and also protect your partners from infection," said Cara Drake, MPH, Counseling and Testing coordinator. “The rapid test is a more convenient way for people to learn their status because they don’t have to wait for the test result.”

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver and can cause serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.  Hepatitis C is most commonly passed from person to person through infected blood. Currently, most people become infected with Hepatitis C by sharing needles and other injection drug equipment. People at risk for Hepatitis C include:

- Former and current injection drug users
- People who have received tattoos or body piercings with non-sterile instruments
- Recipients of donated blood, blood products, or organs prior to 1992
- People infected with HIV

Get the facts. Get tested.

For more information call Cara Drake, Solano County Sr. Health Education Specialist at (707) 553-5552 and [email protected]