Where might I have been exposed to the Hep C virus?
Some high-risk and surprisingly common activities can increase your exposure to the hepatitis C virus.
Here are some of the most prevalent ones to explore further before taking a look at the Risk Factors Checker below.
Health care overseas
Had medical, dental or cosmetic procedures in countries with low levels of infection control or high prevalence of hep C.
Tattoos
Had tattooing or body piercing done with unsterile equipment
IV Drug Use
Shared equipment (needles, syringes, spoons, straws) used to take recreational or performance-enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, even once
Risk Factors Checklist
The hep C virus is spread when infected blood (even microscopic amounts) enters your blood stream. The virus can live outside the body for several days to weeks. Because there are a number of ways people can get hep C, this checklist covers many of the risk factors.
You may be at risk of hepatitis C if you can say
'Yes' to any of the following:
Did you know...
Hep C is a virus spread by blood-to-blood contact. An injury or illness that requires medical or dental treatment (e.g. injection, IV drip, transfusion) could result in hep C infection if the blood supply is not properly screened and/or the equipment is not disinfected or sanitized.
Did you know...
Needles puncture your skin when you're getting a tattoo or piercing which can cause bleeding. If even small amounts of infected blood remain on the tattoo needle or in the ink and the needles and equipment are re-used or not sterilised properly, the virus could be transferred to you during the tattooing process.
Did you know...
Sharing or reusing needles and syringes increases the chance of spreading hep C. Syringes with detachable needles increase this risk even more because they can retain more blood after they are used than syringes with fixed-needles.
Did you know...
Blood was not tested for hep C before 1992 so you may be at risk if you had a blood transfusion before this time.
Did you know...
The overall rate of mother to child transmission of hep C virus infection is 4-10%.
Did you know...
Globally, hep C affects almost 18% of people in prison compared to about 1.8% of people in the general population.
Less common risks include:
Did you know...
Sexual transmission of hep C is possible. A person's risk for hep C appears to increase if they have a sexually transmitted disease or HIV, sex with multiple partners, or rough sex.
Did you know...
You can get hep C if your blood comes into contact with blood from someone infected with the hep C virus. Only small amounts of blood are needed to spread the virus.
Would you recognise the symptoms of Hep C?
Thousands of Kiwis could be living with hep C but don't know it.
You can live with hep C for many years before you start feeling sick. One of the most common symptoms is just feeling very, very tired (commonly referred to as fatigue).
Use our Symptom checker to find out more.
Get tested today
If left untreated, chronic hep C can damage your liver. In some cases after many years, this can lead to cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver), liver failure and sometimes liver cancer.
Treatment can cure* hep C.
There are oral treatments which offer the chance of curing the virus for the majority of people living with hep C. Talk to your healthcare professional today to get tested, or find a testing site near you.
* Cure means that the hep C virus is not found in the blood 3 months after the end of treatment.
TESTING SAVES LIVES
The only way to know for sure if you have hep C, is to get tested.
You'll be taken to a 3rd party site.
TAPS BG5090. NZ-VHCV-200016. Prepared June 2025.