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 a blood test is the only way to find out.

This guide walks you through getting a hepatitis C test in Los Angeles. It covers who the CDC says should be tested, what to bring, what happens at the visit, and what the results can mean.

Who should get a hepatitis C test

The CDC recommends that every adult aged 18 and older be screened for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. This is called universal one-time screening. It applies whatever your gender, orientation or history.

The CDC also recommends testing for:

Pregnant people, during each pregnancy.
Anyone with ongoing risk factors, who may be tested more than once. A clinician can tell you how often.

The CDC lists several situations that can raise the chance of exposure. They include:

Ever having injected drugs, even once, long ago.
Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992.
Living with HIV.
Being born to a parent who had hepatitis C.
Having had a health care exposure to blood, such as a needle stick.

Hepatitis C is also covered in the CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), and it can sometimes be passed through sex. If you are getting other tests, it is reasonable to ask a clinician whether a hepatitis C test fits with them.

What you need before you start

A phone, to call or book a visit.
A photo ID if you have one. Ask the clinic whether it is required.
Your insurance card, if you have insurance. If you do not, tell the clinic when you book.
A short list of questions and any recent exposures you want to discuss.
A way to see your results. The county clinics use the LA Health Portal, so ask how to sign up.

You do not need to fast or do anything special beforehand. A hepatitis C test is a blood draw.

Step-by-step: getting a hepatitis C test in Los Angeles

Step 1: Decide which kind of visit fits you

Some people want a quick screening test. Others have a specific exposure, symptoms, or questions about a diagnosis they already have. Knowing which one you are looking for helps you choose a clinic and tell the scheduler what you need.

If you are pregnant, tell the clinic. The CDC recommends testing in every pregnancy, and your prenatal provider can order it.

Step 2: Pick a place and ask about hepatitis C specifically

This step matters most. Clinics that advertise STD testing do not always include a hepatitis C test in the same visit. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Sexual Health Clinics page lists STD testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP and treatment. It does not name hepatitis C testing as a service. Ask before you go.

Here are some places to start asking. All details come from the sources named below, and the clinic can confirm what is current:

Central Health Center (DPH Sexual Health Clinic), 241 Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The county says there are no patient fees, and insurance is billed if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance. Appointments are preferred, with limited walk-ins.
MLK Jr. Center for Public Health (DPH Sexual Health Clinic), 11833 S. Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059. The county lists it as a full-service clinic where appointments are preferred and limited walk-ins are available.
Pacoima Health Center, 13300 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, CA 91331. This DPH site is for screening only. People with symptoms or a possible exposure are directed to another DPH clinic.
Los Angeles LGBT Center, McDonald/Wright Building, 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. The county lists walk-ins and same-day appointments, Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm. The Center's page does not state what testing costs.
AHF Wellness Center - Western, 1811 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. AHF says it tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV and that testing is free. Its page does not mention hepatitis C, so ask.

You can see the full local testing list in our Los Angeles clinic directory. For a wider overview of where to get tested, read STD testing in Los Angeles: where to get tested.

The CDC also runs a national finder at gettested.cdc.gov. You can search it by ZIP code to find testing sites around Los Angeles.

Step 3: Book the visit

All DPH sexual health appointments go through one scheduling line, (213) 449-7009. The county also offers telehealth visits by phone booking.

When you call, you can say something like: "I would like a hepatitis C test. Do you offer it, and what does it cost?" If the clinic does not offer it, ask where they would send you.

The county STD hotline, 800-758-0880, can also help you find free testing. For free testing from the county, DPH says its clinics are open to everyone regardless of citizenship and that it will not report immigration status.

Step 4: Have the blood draw

The first test is usually a hepatitis C antibody test. It checks whether your body has ever made antibodies to the virus. A clinician or technician draws a small blood sample from your arm. It takes a few minutes.

Tell the staff if needles make you anxious. Sitting or lying down can help, and they have heard it before.

Step 5: Understand the second test

The CDC explains that an antibody test cannot tell by itself whether a virus is currently in your body. If the antibody result is reactive, the next step is a second test called a nucleic acid test, or RNA test. It looks for the virus itself.

Many labs run the RNA test automatically from the same blood sample when the antibody result is reactive. Ask the clinic whether they do this. If not, you will need a follow-up draw.

Step 6: Get your results and talk through them

DPH says results come through the LA Health Portal in 2 to 10 business days. Other clinics have their own timelines, so ask when you book.

Only a clinician can interpret your results in your situation. If you have not heard back when you expected, call the clinic. Do not assume silence means anything.

Step 7: Plan next steps with a clinician

If your results point to a current infection, a clinician can talk to you about treatment. The CDC says hepatitis C is curable with medicines prescribed by a clinician. Most people are treated with oral medicines. The right plan depends on your health and history, so it comes from your care team, not from a general guide.

If your results show no current infection, ask the clinician whether and when you should be tested again, especially if you have ongoing risk factors.

Free and low-cost options in California and Los Angeles

The county Sexual Health Clinics provide care at no patient charge, and the DPH page says insurance is billed if you have it, with no copay or coinsurance. Whether hepatitis C testing is part of each visit is something to confirm directly.

The California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS has also run a program called TakeMeHome, which offers free mailed self-test kits for HIV, STIs and hepatitis C. The most recent information we could confirm covers data through December 2022, so check takemehome.org for current availability and who is eligible.

If you have a regular doctor or insurance, you can also ask for a hepatitis C test at a routine visit. Because the CDC recommends one-time screening for all adults, it is a standard request.

Expected results

Results are described in plain terms below. A clinician can explain what they mean for you.

A non-reactive antibody result usually suggests there is no hepatitis C antibody in the sample. If you may have been exposed recently, the test may be too early to show it. Ask the clinician what timing applies to you, and rely on the CDC's guidance on testing windows rather than a guess.
A reactive antibody result means antibodies were found. It can reflect a past infection that is gone or a current one. The RNA test is what helps clarify this.
An RNA result that detects the virus suggests a current infection. One that does not detect it suggests the virus is not currently present. A clinician will confirm what this means.

No test is perfect, and results can sometimes need repeating. That is a normal part of care.

Tips for a smoother visit

Call ahead. Appointments are preferred at the county clinics, and walk-in slots are limited.
Ask about all the tests you want in one visit, such as HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C, so you do not make multiple trips.
Write down your questions. Appointments can feel short.
Ask how and when you will be contacted with results, and which phone number or portal they will use.
Share your history openly. Clinicians ask about it to choose the right tests, not to judge.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming an STD panel includes hepatitis C. It often does not. Ask for it by name.
Waiting for symptoms. The CDC notes that many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms for a long time.
Stopping after an antibody result. If it is reactive, the RNA test is the step that shows whether the virus is currently present.
Skipping a repeat test when it is advised. If you have ongoing risk factors, one test may not be enough over time.
Not asking about cost. If a clinic's page does not list a price, call and ask before you go.

Other infections worth asking about

If you are already planning to see a clinician, you might also ask about other tests. For example, you can read about chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in Los Angeles. A single visit can often cover several tests.

Your next step

Pick one clinic from the list above, call, and ask: "Do you offer a hepatitis C antibody test, and does it include the follow-up RNA test if needed?" You can also use gettested.cdc.gov to find other sites. The test is a simple blood draw. The CDC says hepatitis C can be cured, and that starts with knowing your status.

Hepatitis C Testing in Los Angeles: Who Should Test and Where