Supporting people through the testing process

Key points

Providing counselling involves having discussions with people to ensure they have the information, resources and supports they need throughout the hepatitis C testing process.
Following a diagnosis of hepatitis C, a person should be provided with information about hepatitis C treatment and cure and informed where to access it.
Across Canada, positive hepatitis C test results must be reported to the provincial or territorial public health authority. The information provided to public health officials is confidential.

Providing information and counselling

Counselling related to testing involves having discussions with people to ensure that they receive the information, resources and supports they need both before and after taking a test. Through counselling and education, frontline workers can provide:

an informed consent process
information about hepatitis C, such as prevention, treatment and liver care
emotional support to prepare for test results
encouragement to return for test results
referrals to healthcare and other services in the community

What happens following a hepatitis C diagnosis?

Linkage to care

Following a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C, a person should be provided information about hepatitis C treatment and cure and referred to a healthcare provider who offers hepatitis C treatment.

People who test negative but may continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis C should be offered information and resources about preventing hepatitis C infection and reinfection, including linkage to harm reduction services and repeat testing.

Engaging in hepatitis C testing, treatment and care can be a helpful way for people to be linked with other services, such as harm reduction services, social services, primary healthcare services and mental health services.

Public health reporting

Across Canada, positive hepatitis C antibody and RNA test results must be reported to the provincial or territorial public health authority. The information provided to public health officials is confidential.

The amount and type of information collected and reported to public health depends on the province or territory where the test happens. However, all provinces and territories provide non-identifying data on positive hepatitis C test results to the Public Health Agency of Canada for national-level reporting on hepatitis C in Canada.

Contact tracing

Contact tracing and notification is the practice of identifying, locating and informing someone that they may have been exposed to hepatitis C.

When a person has a newly identified hepatitis C infection, a public health nurse or other healthcare provider may work with them to identify any contacts who may have been exposed to hepatitis C. The individual may be asked to inform their contacts themselves, or a public health nurse or other healthcare provider may also attempt to notify contacts and encourage them to test for hepatitis C.

Resources for service providers