11 Preventive Health Screening Tests Doctors Recommend

11. Hepatitis C screening (one-time or risk-based)

Hepatitis C screening is a blood test that finds a viral infection which can silently damage the liver over years. Recent guidance supports at least one-time testing for most adults and more frequent screening for people with ongoing risk exposures, because highly effective treatments can cure most infections (CDC; USPSTF). What to expect: a simple blood draw is sent to a lab for antibody and confirmatory RNA testing if needed. Preparation tips: no fasting or special prep is required. If you test positive, your clinician will order follow-up tests and, when appropriate, referral to a specialist for antiviral therapy that often clears the virus. Testing is especially important if you have a history of injection drug use, prior blood transfusions before screening of the blood supply, or other exposures. Getting tested removes uncertainty and opens the door to curative treatment for most people.