Hepatitis B and hepatitis C affect the liver, but they are caused by different viruses and are assessed differently. Screening can be part of sexual health care, particularly when a person wants a fuller picture after a relevant exposure or has never discussed their hepatitis status with a clinician.

Hepatitis B: infection, immunity and vaccination

Hepatitis B testing can help a clinician understand whether there is current infection, past infection or protection from vaccination. The meaning of a result often depends on more than one blood marker, so it is important to have results explained rather than relying on a single label.

Hepatitis C: a different testing pathway

Hepatitis C screening typically begins with an antibody test. When an antibody result is reactive, further testing may be used to determine whether there is a current infection. The clinic can advise which test is relevant for your circumstances and whether follow-up is needed.

Who may want to ask about screening?

It can be useful to discuss screening after blood exposure, sharing injection equipment, certain sexual exposures, a previous diagnosis, or where vaccination and prior testing history are unclear. Pregnancy, liver symptoms and existing health conditions can also change what is appropriate, so mention them in your consultation.

Keep the discussion practical

Bring any previous records if available, including hepatitis B vaccination history and earlier test results. This gives the clinician a more complete starting point and may prevent unnecessary repetition.

See the individual pages for hepatitis B testing and hepatitis C testing.

Further reading: Clinical information from CDC or WHO. This guide is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.