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Hepatitis C Testing in Boston: Who Should Test and Where

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Hepatitis C Testing in Boston: Who Should Test and Where

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. Many people who have it feel fine for years, so a blood test is the only way to find out. The good news is that hepatitis C is curable with treatment from a clinician, and a hep c test is quick and often free in Boston.

This guide walks you through the process in order. It covers who should get a hepatitis c test, what to bring, how the two-part testing works, and where to go in Boston.

Who should get a hepatitis C test?

The CDC recommends that every adult 18 and older get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. This is universal screening. It applies no matter your gender, orientation, or whether you have ever had symptoms or known risk factors. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also recommends one-time screening for adults.

The CDC also recommends testing for all pregnant people during each pregnancy.

The CDC recommends more frequent testing for some people, including:

  • People who currently inject drugs or share drug-use equipment
  • People living with HIV
  • People with ongoing exposure to the virus through blood or other risk factors

If any of these fit, ask a clinician how often testing makes sense for you. Testing is a routine health check. It is not a judgment.

What you need before you go

You do not need much. Here is a short list.

  • A photo ID, if you have one. Some clinics ask for it. If you do not have one, call ahead and ask what they accept.
  • Your insurance card, if you have insurance. Several Boston clinics test at no cost, but ask how they handle billing.
  • A list of past tests or treatment, if you have it. This helps a clinician read your results.
  • A few questions written down. It is easy to forget them in the room.
  • About an hour of free time. The blood draw is brief, but check-in and conversation take time.

You do not need to fast or prepare your body in any special way. Ask the clinic if they have different instructions.

Step-by-step: how to get a hepatitis C test in Boston

Step 1: Decide where to go

Pick a clinic based on location, schedule, and whether you want to book ahead or walk in. The clinic list below can help. The local testing list on this site also shows places to start. For a wider look at costs and options across all infections, see our guide to STD testing in Boston.

You can also use the CDC's GetTested directory at gettested.cdc.gov to search by ZIP code.

Step 2: Call or check the clinic's page

Hours change. Call before you go, especially if a clinic's page does not state whether it takes walk-ins. Ask three things:

  1. Do you offer hepatitis C testing?
  2. Do I need an appointment?
  3. What will it cost me, if anything?

Step 3: Get the antibody test

Testing for hepatitis C usually starts with a blood test called a hepatitis C antibody test. It looks for antibodies, which are proteins the body makes after it meets the virus. A clinician draws a small blood sample, usually from your arm.

The CDC explains that antibodies can stay in the body even after the virus is gone. So this test shows whether you have ever met the virus. It does not show whether the virus is in your body now.

Step 4: Follow up with the RNA test if needed

If the antibody result is reactive, the CDC recommends a second test called a nucleic acid test, or RNA test. This test looks for the virus itself. It tells a clinician whether the virus is currently in your blood. Many labs run this follow-up on the same blood sample, so you may not need a second needle stick. Ask the clinic how they handle it.

If you think you were recently exposed, tell the clinician. The CDC says the timing of a test matters, and a clinician can tell you whether a repeat test makes sense.

Step 5: Ask when and how you will get results

Before you leave, ask how the clinic shares results. Options usually include a phone call, a patient portal, or a follow-up visit. Fenway Health's page says results take 3 to 5 business days. Other clinics may differ, so ask.

Step 6: Talk through next steps with a clinician

Whatever the result, plan a conversation with a clinician. The CDC says hepatitis C is curable with treatment from a clinician, and that most people who take the prescribed medicines are cured. A clinician decides what treatment fits each person and explains what it involves. If your result says no virus was found, ask whether you should test again in the future.

Where to get a hep C test in Boston

These Boston options come from each organization's own page or from the CDC GetTested directory. Hours and services can change, so confirm by phone.

Boston STD Clinic at Boston Medical Center

Boston Medical Center's clinic page says it offers free routine testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C, with cost assistance for people who are uninsured. It is at 725 Albany St., 9th Floor, Suite 9C, Boston, MA 02118. Call 617-414-2803. The page lists weekday hours that vary by day, and it lists Tuesday twice, so confirm by phone. Appointments are made by phone or MyChart for established patients. The page does not say whether walk-ins are accepted.

Website: bmc.org/infectious-diseases/boston-std-clinic

Fenway Health Sexual Health Clinic

Fenway Health's page lists hepatitis C testing among its services. The clinic is at the Ansin Building, 1340 Boylston Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02215. Call 617-267-0159 (main line 617-267-0900). Fenway lists walk-in hours, first come, first served: Tuesday 1 to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 7 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. is by appointment only. Check-in closes 30 minutes before the end time.

On cost, Fenway's page says the clinic bills insurance if you have it, and that Quest Labs bills insurance directly, so patients are responsible for any Quest charges. People who are uninsured can be seen free through grant funding. The page says it is open to gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, transgender and gender diverse people, and their partners.

Website: fenwayhealth.org

TrueCare@MAC testing at the Multicultural AIDS Coalition

The Multicultural AIDS Coalition lists free STD, HIV and hepatitis C testing at 9 Palmer Street, Roxbury, MA 02119. Call 617-442-1622. Its page says you can come with or without an appointment. Listed hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (testing 10:30 to 4), Wednesday 12 to 7 p.m. (testing 12:30 to 6), and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (testing 11:30 to 3). Sunday is not listed.

Website: mac-boston.org

Boston Public Health Commission listing

The CDC GetTested directory lists the Boston Public Health Commission at 774 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, phone 617-534-3976. The directory shows free hepatitis C testing and does not list hours, noting that hours may change. It does not say whether walk-ins are accepted, so call first. This is a different provider from Boston Medical Center, even though both are on Albany Street.

Website: CDC GetTested listing

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Health Center

The CDC GetTested directory lists hepatitis C testing at 1055 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, phone 617-295-7235. It says an appointment is required and that the center accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare and offers a sliding scale. Hours are not listed there.

Website: CDC GetTested listing

DotHouse Health

The CDC GetTested directory lists hepatitis C testing at 1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122, phone 617-288-3230. It lists sliding scale fees and acceptance of Medicaid and Medicare. The directory says an appointment is required, while another local resource list mentions walk-in testing through Urgent Care at the same phone number. Call to find out which applies. Listed languages are English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Website: CDC GetTested listing

Other help

The City of Boston's Mayor's Health Line, 617-534-5050, offers free, confidential, multilingual health information and referrals. The Boston Public Health Commission's Infectious Disease Bureau can be reached at 617-534-5395. The City of Boston's Getting Tested page has more on testing.

Codman Square Health Center's X-Clinic offers sliding scale STI and HIV testing, but its page does not list a hepatitis C test, so ask before you go.

If you are under 18

Under Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 112, s. 12F), a minor who reasonably believes they are at risk of exposure due to sexual activity may consent to care to diagnose or treat the disease without a parent's consent. The City of Boston tells people 13 or older they can get a confidential STI test without parental permission. Ask the clinic whether hepatitis C testing is part of what they offer for your age. The CDC's universal screening advice covers adults 18 and older, so a clinician can help decide what applies to you.

Tips for a smoother visit

  • Combine tests. Several Boston clinics test for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same visit. If you want to learn more about one of those, read about chlamydia testing and treatment in Boston.
  • Tell the clinician about your history. Share past exposures and past tests. It helps them choose the right test and timing.
  • Ask about cost before the draw. Free at one clinic does not mean free everywhere. Ask whether an outside lab bills separately.
  • Drink water. It can make the blood draw easier.
  • Bring a friend if it helps. Many people feel calmer with company.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting for symptoms. The CDC notes that many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms for a long time. A test is how you find out.
  • Assuming one past test covers you forever. If you have ongoing risk factors, ask a clinician how often to retest.
  • Stopping after a reactive antibody test. That result needs the RNA follow-up to show whether the virus is present now.
  • Showing up without checking hours. Clinic schedules differ, and some pages disagree. A quick call saves a trip.
  • Skipping the results conversation. Ask how and when you will hear back, and who to call with questions.
  • Avoiding testing because of cost or immigration worries. Several clinics above are free or sliding scale. Codman Square's X-Clinic page says it offers testing and treatment regardless of citizenship status. Ask any clinic about its policies.

What results may mean

Only a clinician can interpret your results, but here is the general picture from the CDC's testing approach.

  • A non-reactive antibody test generally suggests that antibodies were not found. A clinician may still talk with you about timing if you were recently exposed.
  • A reactive antibody test means antibodies were found. It leads to the RNA test to see whether the virus is currently in the blood.
  • An RNA test that finds the virus means a clinician will talk with you about treatment. The CDC says treatment can cure hepatitis C.
  • An RNA test that does not find the virus may suggest the virus is not currently present. A clinician can explain what that means for you.

No test is perfect, and results may vary with timing and lab methods. If anything is unclear, ask your clinician to explain it again.

Your next step

Pick one clinic from the list, call, and ask about a hepatitis C test. If you want more options, try gettested.cdc.gov or call the Mayor's Health Line at 617-534-5050. One test can answer the question, and if treatment is needed, it can cure hepatitis C.

Sources