Monday, May 19, marks National Hepatitis Testing Day. This national testing day raises awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C and urges all adults 18 years and older to get screened at least once in their lives to learn their status.

 

National Hepatitis Testing Day is a day for people at risk for viral hepatitis to be tested and for health care providers to educate patients about viral hepatitis and testing.

 

 

In the United States, about 850,000 people are living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and about 2.4 million are living with hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

 

Most people with chronic HBV or HCV don’t experience symptoms until the infection has reached later stages, leading to a greater risk for complications and even death. In fact, more than half of those living with hepatitis do not know that they have the virus.

 

According to HHS, 67% of people living with HBV and 51% of people living with HCV do not know they have it.

 

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National Hepatitis Testing Day aims not only to raise awareness about the importance of hepatitis testing, vaccination and treatment but also to eliminate viral hepatitis in the United States once and for all, per the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends universal HBV and HCV screening for all adults.

 

Learn about the CDC’s universal Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C screening and testing recommendations

  • CDC recommends universal hepatitis C screening for: 
    • all adults aged 18 years and older, once in a lifetime, except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection (HCV RNA‑positivity) is less than 0.1%;
    • all pregnant people during each pregnancy, except in settings where the prevalence of HCV infection (HCV RNA‑positivity) is less than 0.1%.
  • CDC recommends one‑time hepatitis C testing regardless of age or setting prevalence among people with recognized conditions or exposures.
  • CDC recommends routine periodic testing for people with ongoing risk factors.
  • CDC recommends hepatitis C testing for any person who requests hepatitis C testing.
  • CDC recommends universal hepatitis B screening for: 
    • All adults age 18 years and older, at least once in their lifetime using a triple panel test.
  • CDC recommends screening all pregnant people during each pregnancy, preferably in the first trimester, regardless of vaccination status or history of testing.
  • CDC recommends routine periodic testing for people with ongoing risk factors or symptoms for hepatitis B, regardless of age.

 

Use the Hepatitis Digital Tools

Incorporate the Hepatitis Testing Day logo into your website, blog posts, social media, email and other communications. Visit this CDC page to find an array of digital tools, including downloadable banners in different shapes and sizes that can be used across several online platforms.

 

Join the conversation on social media. Use the hashtags #HepTestingDay, #NationalHepatitisTestingDay, #HepAware and #HepatitisAwarenessMonth to share information on viral hepatitis and Hepatitis Awareness Month.

 

Click Hepatitis Awareness Month for additional events and campaigns happening this May.