This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. Many people who have it feel fine for years, so the only way to know is a blood test. The good news is that a hepatitis C test is simple, and the infection can be cured with treatment from a clinician.

This guide walks you through the process in plain steps. It covers who the CDC says should test, what the hep C test involves, and how to start finding a place in Las Vegas to ask about it.

Who should get a hepatitis C test

The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening at least once in a lifetime for all adults 18 and older. This is a universal recommendation, so it applies no matter your gender, orientation or history. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also recommends screening adults aged 18 to 79.

The CDC also recommends screening during every pregnancy. A clinician can tell you how this fits your care.

Some people may need testing more than once. The CDC lists reasons a clinician may suggest repeat testing, including:

Ongoing injection drug use or sharing of drug equipment
Being on hemodialysis
Other situations where a clinician sees continuing exposure

The CDC also recommends testing for people with HIV, people with abnormal liver tests, and children born to a parent with hepatitis C. If you are not sure which group fits you, a clinician can help you decide.

Testing is a routine health step, not a judgment. A hep C test says nothing about your character or your choices.

What you need before you start

You do not need much. Gather these before you go:

Photo ID. The Southern Nevada Health District asks clinic visitors to bring photo ID.
Proof of income, if you want a sliding-scale fee. The health district says charges are based on income and the number of people in your household.
Your insurance card, if you have one. Some clinics bill insurance. Others offer self-pay or sliding fees.
A short list of questions. Write down anything you want to ask about timing, results or privacy.
Any past results. If you have been tested for hepatitis C before, bring the date and result if you can.
A phone. You will likely need to call a clinic first to confirm that it offers this test.

Step-by-step: how to get a hep C test in Las Vegas

Step 1: Decide whether this is your one-time test or a repeat test

If you have never had a hepatitis C test, the CDC's universal recommendation applies to you as an adult. If you have been tested before, think about whether anything has changed since then. A clinician can tell you whether a repeat test makes sense.

You do not need symptoms to get tested. Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms for a long time, which is why the CDC recommends screening for everyone.

Step 2: Know the two-part process

The CDC describes hepatitis C testing as a sequence of two steps.

The antibody test. This blood test looks for antibodies, which are proteins your body makes in response to the hepatitis C virus. It is the usual first test.
The RNA test. If the antibody test is reactive, the CDC recommends a follow-up test that looks for the virus itself. This is sometimes called a nucleic acid test, or NAT.

Each step answers a different question. The antibody test shows whether your body has ever met the virus. The RNA test shows whether the virus is currently in your blood. A clinician reads the two results together.

Many labs run the RNA test automatically on the same sample when the antibody test is reactive. This is called reflex testing. You can ask the clinic whether they do it, because it can save you a second blood draw.

Step 3: Ask about timing if you think you were recently exposed

Antibodies can take time to show up after exposure, so timing matters. The CDC explains that the RNA test can find the virus earlier than the antibody test can. If you had a recent possible exposure, tell the clinician. They can choose which test to use and when.

Please do not guess the timing yourself. Ask the clinic, and use the CDC's guidance as the reference.

Step 4: Call a clinic and ask whether they offer a hepatitis C test

This step matters most in Las Vegas. Many local sexual health pages list STI and HIV testing but do not mention hepatitis C by name. So ask before you go.

Here is what the clinic pages say, based on what each publishes:

Southern Nevada Health District Sexual Health Clinic, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., (702) 759-1700. The health district says walk-ins for STI testing and treatment are available until capacity is reached. Charges follow a sliding scale, and the district says you will not be turned away on the day of your visit because you cannot pay. The clinic page does not list hepatitis C testing, so call and ask.
Southern Nevada Health District, Fremont Public Health Center, 2830 E. Fremont St., (702) 759-1700. It uses the same sliding-scale model. The page asks people to arrive by 5:30 PM to allow time for processing. It does not list hepatitis C testing either, so ask.
Arlene Cooper Community Health Center at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Call 702-802-5432 for appointments. The Center says HIV testing is free and STI screening is low cost, and that certain insurance is billed. It does not list hepatitis C testing on its health center page, so ask.
Nevada Health Centers, Martin Luther King Family Health Center, 1799 Mount Mariah Dr., 702.383.1961. The organization offers a sliding-fee discount program based on family size and income. Call to ask about hepatitis C testing.
Nevada Health Centers, Nellis Family Medical Center, 691 N. Nellis Blvd., 702.563.4662. Same fee model. Call to ask.
UNLV Student Health Center, 702-895-3370. This serves UNLV students. Its page does not list a price, so call to ask about hepatitis C testing and costs.

Hours differ between the health district's own pages. Confirm hours by phone before you go. You can also compare options on the local testing list.

Step 5: Use the CDC locator if a clinic cannot help

If the clinics above do not offer a hep C test, the CDC runs a free locator at gettested.cdc.gov. Enter a Las Vegas ZIP code to see nearby places that list hepatitis testing. Call the site before you go to confirm.

A primary care office, urgent care or community health center can also order the test. The health district's main page can point you to other options in Clark County.

Step 6: Combine tests if you want to

Many people choose to test for several infections in one visit. The Southern Nevada Health District offers free Express Testing, a walk-in service for people without symptoms. Its published description covers STI testing. It does not list hepatitis C, so ask if it can be added.

For a wider view of what a Las Vegas visit looks like and what it costs, see our guide to STD testing in Las Vegas. If you also want to learn about another common infection, read about chlamydia testing and treatment in Las Vegas.

Step 7: Get the blood draw

The visit itself is short. A clinician takes a small blood sample, usually from your arm. Some places use a fingerstick test instead. Tell staff if needles make you nervous. They have heard it before and can help you stay comfortable.

Ask how and when you will get results. Ask who will call you, and what number they will use. If privacy matters to you, say so at check-in.

Step 8: Plan for the result and any next step

Do not try to read the result alone. A clinician can explain what it means for you. If the antibody test is reactive, the follow-up RNA test shows whether the virus is currently present.

If the clinician finds current hepatitis C, treatment is available. The CDC says antiviral medicines can cure hepatitis C in most people, with cure rates above 95 percent. The clinician chooses what to prescribe. Do not start or stop any medicine on your own.

What to expect from your results

Results can come back in a few different ways. A clinician will explain which one applies to you.

Antibody test not reactive. This may mean the body has not made antibodies to hepatitis C. A clinician can tell you whether the timing of a recent exposure calls for another test.
Antibody test reactive, then RNA test not detected. This may mean the person was exposed in the past and the virus is not currently found in the blood. A clinician can explain what that means and what follow-up fits.
Antibody test reactive, then RNA test detected. This may mean the virus is currently in the blood. A clinician can talk through care and treatment options.

No test is perfect, and results should always be reviewed with a clinician. The CDC recommends this two-step approach because it gives a fuller picture than either test alone.

In Nevada, health care providers must report some infections to the local health authority. The Nevada Administrative Code, chapter 441A, lists which ones. Ask your clinic how they handle reporting and your privacy if you want to know.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call first. Because hepatitis C testing is not listed on every clinic page, a two-minute call can save you a trip.
Ask about cost up front. Ask if the hep C test is included in a sliding-scale visit or billed on its own.
Arrive early at walk-in clinics. The health district notes that walk-ins are served until capacity is reached.
Bring up everything that matters. Past testing, pregnancy, HIV status and any recent exposure can change which test is best.
Ask for a written copy of your result. It helps if you see another provider later.
Bring a friend if it helps. Support makes follow-up easier.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a regular STI panel includes hepatitis C. It often does not. Ask for the hep C test by name.
Waiting for symptoms. Hepatitis C can be silent. The CDC recommends testing without them.
Stopping after a reactive antibody test. The RNA test is the step that shows whether the virus is currently present.
Treating one test as a lifetime pass. If your situation changes, ask whether a repeat test is right for you.
Skipping the follow-up call. If a clinic asks you to come back or call for results, do it. Treatment works best when it starts with a clinician.
Letting cost stop you. Several Las Vegas clinics use sliding-scale or low-cost models. Ask what your options are.

If you cannot get to a clinic

The Southern Nevada Health District runs Collect 2 Protect, a program for Nevada residents. Its published description covers at-home HIV self-test kits and mail-in kits for gonorrhea and chlamydia. It does not list a hepatitis C kit. Check the program page or call the health district before relying on it for this test.

Why this matters in Clark County

The Southern Nevada Health District serves more than 2.3 million residents and covers communicable disease in Clark County. The health district's published pages do not give a local hepatitis C figure that we can quote here. Regardless of local numbers, the CDC's one-time adult recommendation applies to people in Las Vegas just as it does everywhere else.

Your next step

Pick one clinic from the list above and call this week. Ask three questions: Do you offer a hepatitis C antibody test? Do you run the RNA test if the first one is reactive? What will it cost me? If the answer is no, try the next clinic or use gettested.cdc.gov.

Getting tested is one of the most useful things you can do for your liver health. If you need help, the health district's clinic line is (702) 759-1700.

Hepatitis C Testing in Las Vegas: Who Should Test and Where