Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and HCV-Related Chronic Disease

These recommendations are an expansion of previous recommendations for the prevention of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection that focused on screening and followup of blood, plasma, organ, tissue, and semen donors (CDC. Public Health Service inter-agency guidelines for screening donors of blood, plasma, organs, tissues, and semen for evidence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. MMWR 1991;40[No. RR-4];1-17). The recommendations in this report provide broader guidelines for a) preventing transmission of HCV; b) identifying, counseling, and testing persons at risk for HCV infection; and c) providing appropriate medical evaluation and management of HCV infected persons. Based on currently available knowledge, these recommendations were developed by CDC staff members after consultation with experts who met in Atlanta during July 15-17, 1998. This report is intended to serve as a resource for health-care professionals, public health officials, and organizations involved in the development, delivery, and evaluation of prevention and clinical services.