The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is releasing draft guidelines recommending all baby boomers in the United States get tested for hepatitis C.
Current CDC guidelines require only people with certain known risk factors be tested for hepatitis C. The new testing requirement aims to diagnose more people infected with hepatitis C, as studies have shown many baby boomers do not think they are at risk and do not get tested, according to the release. In addition, the majority of infected baby boomers are unaware they have the virus because it can damage the liver without noticeable symptoms for several years, according to the release.
CDC estimates the one-time hepatitis C test for all baby boomers could diagnose more than 800,000 additional people with the virus and save more than 120,000 lives.
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Current CDC guidelines require only people with certain known risk factors be tested for hepatitis C. The new testing requirement aims to diagnose more people infected with hepatitis C, as studies have shown many baby boomers do not think they are at risk and do not get tested, according to the release. In addition, the majority of infected baby boomers are unaware they have the virus because it can damage the liver without noticeable symptoms for several years, according to the release.
CDC estimates the one-time hepatitis C test for all baby boomers could diagnose more than 800,000 additional people with the virus and save more than 120,000 lives.
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