Free hepatitis C tests in some cities

OraSure said it is working with Walgreens and health groups to provide free hepatitis C tests in New York, Chicago, Houston, St. Louis and Washington. Dr. Jay Varma, deputy health commissioner of New York City, said the Check Hep C NYC program was launched Friday by The Fund for Public Health in New York in partnership with the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene Office. The city-wide initiative will provide hepatitis C community-based services, including rapid hepatitis C testing for New Yorkers at risk for hepatitis C. The program will aim to test at least 5,000 persons for hepatitis C using the OraQuick hepatitis C virus rapid test. "With the release of a new hepatitis C virus rapid test, more individuals will become aware of their hepatitis C status and will need hepatitis C virus-related services," Varma said in a statement. "It is imperative that New Yorkers with hepatitis C be linked with healthcare and human services providers in their communities, and Check Hep C is designed to get this done as effectively as possible." Additional OraQuick hepatitis C virus testing initiatives are also taking place in other U.S. cities. It is estimated up to 75 percent of those infected with the hepatitis C virus are unaware of their status, and they might also be unaware the hepatitis C virus can be treated with medications.