Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), in partnership with South Riverdale Community Health Centre and the Toronto Community Hep C Program, is offering hepatitis C testing for adults who are getting bloodwork done in MGH’s Stavro Emergency Department. MGH is the first hospital in Ontario to offer opt-out hepatitis C testing in this way.
This initiative helps ensure we can proactively identify positive cases of hepatitis C in people who may be unaware of their status. It supports the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap, which identifies expanding hepatitis C testing beyond risk-based screening as a priority for eliminating hepatitis C in Ontario.
This builds on MGH, South Riverdale Community Health Centre and the Toronto Community Hep C Program’s ongoing work to eliminate hepatitis C in East Toronto, including a published research study which found that rapid testing, immediate connection to care, and easy access to treatment that leads to a cure is key to supporting hepatitis C elimination.
Why get tested for hepatitis C?
Many people living with hepatitis C do not know they have it. You can have hepatitis C for many years without having symptoms or feeling sick, even though the virus is injuring your liver.
The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested for it. If you are tested at MGH and receive a positive result, a healthcare professional from MGH or the Toronto Community Hep C Program will contact you and offer treatment that leads to a cure.
Treatment comes in pill form, has few side effects and is usually taken for eight or 12 weeks.
Benefits of testing and treatment
Many people have received treatment for hepatitis C – and have been cured of the virus – through the Toronto Community Hep C Program. This improves health by reducing the risk of liver failure, liver cancer and death.
There are other benefits of getting hepatitis C treatment, too. Some people have more energy, better sleep and less body pain after they are cured.
Meet some community members who received treatment for hepatitis C through the Toronto Community Hep C Program and were cured – and hear in their words why testing and treatment are crucial.
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Clifford D’Souza
“I had hepatitis for 44 years and didn’t know until I had bloodwork done. After that, I was able to get treatment and cured. My life is now healthier than before.
My experience with the Toronto Community Hep C Program was fantastic! The team is there to support us even after treatment, which is great.” |
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Kim McMahon
“Finding out I had hepatitis C was hard because I could have potentially been passing it to others without even knowing it. Once I did know, I was able to contact the people that I was around to let them know what I was diagnosed with.
I think everybody should get tested for hepatitis C because, at some point in your life, you will come across somebody with it. It’s very easy to get, but very easy to treat.” |
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Mattea Robb
“I’m very grateful for the treatment and support I was able to get from the Toronto Community Hep C Program. It was something for me to belong to, and you get to learn more about hepatitis C and how to reduce your risk of being infected with it.
I think this program should be available to anyone that is interested in learning about hepatitis C. Because the more people who have this knowledge, the more we can help people.” |
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Jane-Louise Varache
“I started hepatitis C treatment in February 2022, and in August 2022, I was cured. I value my physical and mental health, so having the opportunity to be tested and receive treatment was very important to me. If I wasn’t cured, I would have problems with my liver, pancreas – all kind of things.
As part of the treatment program, I attended peer support groups offered by the Toronto Community Hep C Program where I heard from others who also had hepatitis C and received treatment. I was inspired to take the program’s peer training course. I’ve since graduated and am now part of the daily community at the program site where I support others receiving treatment.” |
Frequently asked questions
- What is hepatitis C virus?
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Hepatitis C is an infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Over time, the virus causes liver injury and scarring and can make you very sick. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can also affect the liver. These viruses can be confused with the hepatitis C virus, but they are not the same.
- How is hepatitis C transmitted?
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The hepatitis C virus gets into the blood through breaks in the skin or in the lining of the nose and mouth. Hepatitis C is a strong virus: it can survive in a tiny drop of blood that is too small to see and can live outside of the body for many days. In certain conditions, such as inside a syringe, the virus can survive for many weeks. This means dried blood can also pass the virus.
- What is the opt-out hepatitis C testing initiative at MGH?
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The opt-out hepatitis C testing initiative aims to proactively identify positive cases of hepatitis C in people who may not know they have it. This helps ensure these people can get the right care and treatment – and that they can be cured – which improves their health and well-being. The initiative is a partnership between Michael Garron Hospital, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, and the Toronto Community Hep C Program.
- How does the initiative work?
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Starting September 2024, people aged 18 and older who are already getting bloodwork done in MGH’s Emergency Department will be tested for hepatitis C unless they ask not to be tested for it.
- Why is MGH offering this testing in the Emergency Department?
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More than 110,000 people in Ontario are living with hepatitis C, which is one of the leading causes of death and illness from an infectious disease in Canada. One in three people in Ontario living with hepatitis C do not know they have it. This increases the risk of negative health outcomes and creates additional strain on our healthcare system.
By proactively identifying positive cases of hepatitis C in the Emergency Department – a space that many different people visit – we can connect patients with the right care and treatment, and cure them of hepatitis C. This helps improve a person’s health and quality of life. It also helps normalize hepatitis C testing and remove stigma associated with the virus.
MGH is the first hospital in Ontario to offer opt-out hepatitis C testing in this way. The initiative supports the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap, which identifies expanding hepatitis C testing beyond risk-based screening as a priority for eliminating hepatitis C in Ontario. It also allows MGH to apply learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which MGH contacted more than 5,000 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 to provide them follow-up care and treatment.
- Why should people be tested for hepatitis C?
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Many people living with hepatitis C do not know they have it. You can have hepatitis C for many years without having symptoms or feeling sick, even though the virus is injuring your liver. The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested for it. This helps ensure you can get the right care and treatment – and that you can be cured – if you test positive.
- Why were people not tested for hepatitis C in this way before?
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Advances in treatment now make it possible to cure hepatitis C with well tolerated, highly effective medication. In addition, historically, hospital emergency departments in Ontario have not had the appropriate resources to provide hepatitis C testing, as well as follow-up care and treatment.
By partnering with South Riverdale Community Health Centre and the Toronto Community Hep C Program, MGH is leveraging the support and expertise of community partners to ensure patients can get the right care at the right time.
- Are there any risks related to being tested for hepatitis C?
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No, there are no risks related to being tested for hepatitis C.
- What is the treatment for hepatitis C?
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Treatment comes in pill form, has few side effects and is usually taken for eight or 12 weeks. For most people, the cost of treatment is covered through public health insurance plans (provincial, territorial or federal). Private insurance plans may also cover the cost of treatment.
In addition to treatment, patients may also benefit from other hepatitis C supports and education. The Toronto Community Hep C Program offers these services.
- Can hepatitis C be cured?
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Yes! Treatment is available and works for everyone. If you are tested at Michael Garron Hospital and receive a positive result, a healthcare professional will contact you and offer treatment that works for you.
Most people need this treatment to cure hepatitis. If someone doesn’t clear the virus after six months, they have a chronic hepatitis C infection. Remember that the only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested.
- What are the benefits of being cured of hepatitis C?
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- It can prevent your liver from becoming more injured. Treatment also prevents liver failure and reduces your chances of developing liver cancer or dying.
- It can improve your liver health over time.
- It can improve your quality of life. For example, some people have more energy, better sleep and less body pain after they are cured.
- It can prevent you from passing the virus on to other people.
- Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
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Hepatitis C is the first curable chronic viral infection. With widespread testing, an effective cure and proven prevention strategies, it is possible to eliminate hepatitis C. This helps improve everyone’s health and well-being, and results in less pressure on our healthcare system.
In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set global targets to eliminate HCV as a public health threat by 2030 and Canada has committed to meeting this goal.
- Where can I learn more about hepatitis C?
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Contact the team at the Toronto Community Hep C Program:
- Bernadette Lettner, Hepatitis C Treatment Nurse at 416-302-5675
- Katie Connolly, Health Promoter at 647-627-5287
You can also visit the Toronto Community Hepa C Program during its drop-in clinic hours:
- Tuesdays at Regent Park Community Health Centre (465 Dundas St. E.) from 12 p.m. to 4 pm
- Wednesdays at South Riverdale Community Health Centre (955 Queen St. E.) from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
You can also learn more about hepatitis C at catie.ca or by talking to your doctor or nurse.