CDC issues new recommendations for testing infants and children born with hepatitis C

The elimination of hepatitis C is a national priority.

CDC released universal screening recommendations for adults in 2020, which included a recommendation to test pregnant people during each pregnancy.

Because of continued increases in hepatitis C cases in the United States, this report provides new recommendations for testing infants and children born to pregnant people with hepatitis C.

CDC’s new recommendations include testing infants and children aged 2-6 months born to pregnant people with hepatitis C. Infants with detectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) should be managed in coordination with a health care provider with expertise in pediatric hepatitis C.

Providers are encouraged to implement CDC’s newest recommendations for hepatitis C testing for all infants and children born to pregnant people with hepatitis C.