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Perinatal Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) can be transmitted from an infected mother to her infant at birth. HCV-exposed infants have a 4% to 7% risk of developing infection; the risk of infection increases if the mother is co-infected with HIV. There is no prophylaxis to prevent infection.
All children born to HCV-infected women should be tested for HCV infection. Testing is recommended using an antibody-based test after 18 months of age. Testing with an HCV RNA assay can be considered in the first year of life. Although the optimal timing of such a test is unknown, HCV RNA testing is not recommended before 2 months of age.
Click on the following links to find audience specific materials about perinatal hepatitis C:
Perinatal Hepatitis C Audiences
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Information for Pregnant Women and Mothers
Hepatitis C General Information (Fact Sheet)
This resource provides information about hepatitis C infection and is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C: What to Expect When Getting Tested (Fact Sheet)
This resources answers some of the common HCV testing questions and is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions
This resource is courtesy of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.HCV: Patient Education Resources
This is a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Patient Education Resources page. Resources are available in English and Spanish. -
Information for Prenatal Care Providers
Serologic
Testing Requirements for Pregnant Women
(August 2022)
Quick reference flyer that outlines the serologic testing requirements for pregnant women in Georgia. Developed by the Georgia Department of Public Health.CDC Recommendations for Universal Hepatitis C Virus Screening Among Adults and Pregnant Women (April 2020)
This is a direct link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published April 10, 2020 that recommends hepatitis C screening for all pregnant women during each pregnancy.Hepatitis C Questions and Answers for Health Professionals
This is a direct link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals. The webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about hepatitis C.HCV Guidance: Recommendations for Testing, Managing and Treating Hepatitis C in Pregnancy
This is a link to a testing resource courtesy of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).Recommended Testing Sequence for Identifying Current Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection
This HCV testing flowsheet is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Interpretation of Results of Tests for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Further Actions
This resource provides the interpretations of HCV serologic laboratory results and is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. -
Information for Pediatric Providers
Hepatitis C Questions and Answers for Health Professionals
This is a direct link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hepatitis C FAQs for Health Professionals. The webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about hepatitis C.HCV Guidance: Recommendations for Testing, Managing and Treating Hepatitis C in Children
This is a link to a testing resource courtesy of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).
Guide
for Testing Infants and Children Perinatally Exposed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection
(2021)
The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Viral Hepatitis Program developed this resource as a guide for pediatric providers testing HCV-exposed infants and children.
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Pediatric Guide: Caring for Infants Born to Hepatitis C-Infected Mothers
(2021)
The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Viral Hepatitis Program developed this resource as a guide for pediatric providers that are caring for HCV-exposed infants and children. -
Additional Resources
Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public
This is a direct link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Hepatitis C FAQs for the Public. The webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about hepatitis C.Hepatitis C
This is a link to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s hepatitis C webpage.Reporting Hepatitis C to the Georgia Department of Public Health
Hepatitis C is a reportable condition in Georgia and must be reported to public health within 7 days of laboratory confirmation.
Contact the Georgia Viral Hepatitis Program:
Page updated 12/22/2022