• Woman know to be IV drug users

• Women known to be either HepB or HIV +ve

• Women whose partner is known to be HepC +ve

• Any woman already known to be Hepatitis C +ve

• Send blood for HepC antibody screen (clotted sample)

• If +ve (or already known +ve) send blood for repeat HepC antibody (clotted) + Hep C viral load (EDTA tube)

• The transmission risk is low – approximately 2% and there is no evidence that Caesarean section or avoidance of breast feeding reduce the risk.

• The only exception to this is in women with high HepC viral loads or co-existing HIV, in which case specialist advice should be sought.

• Appropriate protection including goggles should be worn at delivery.

• Gloves to be worn for disposing of any bodily wastes, which should be placed in double yellow bags.

• All blood tests must have ‘Risk of infection’ stickers attached.

• Send blood for HepC ‘qualitative’ PCR (EDTA tube) on 1 day, paediatric consultant follow-up at 3 months.

• Further follow-up at 1 year with blood test on the day for ‘qualitative PCR’ (red top) & antibodies.

www.hepc.nhs.uk

www.hpa.org.uk

N Hadzic. Hepatitis C in pregnancy. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001; 84: F201-204.

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