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 follow-up of blood, plasma, organ, tissue, and semen donors (CDC. Public Health Service interagency 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.