Special Conversations with CEI: The Impact of Hepatitis C Screening during Pregnancy: A Client’s Story

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pathogen spread by contact with blood from a person with HCV infection. Prevalence among the US obstetric population rose nearly 10-fold over the past 20 years and approximately 6% of infants born to people with HCV become infected during pregnancy or delivery. The New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Plan outlines over 30 recommendations to eliminate HCV in the state by 2030, including implementation of universal screening for all adults. And in 2023, state legislators approved expanding the existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing law to include screening during each pregnancy; changes will go into effect on May 3rd, 2024.

This special edition of “Conversations with CEI” will provide important information about pregnancy, HCV and substance use from the perspective of a client with lived experience, with a focus on providing affirming services for all pregnant persons and their infants. Related Content: 

• New York State Hepatitis C Screening during Pregnancy, Digital Provider Toolkit: https://ceitraining.org/documents/HCV%20Screening%20for%20Pregnant%20People%20-%20Provider%20Toolkit%20MARCH%202024%20for%20Posting.pdf


• New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute guideline for treatment of chronic HCV with direct-acting antivirals, Pregnancy and HCV: https://www.hivguidelines.org/hepatitis-care/treatment-with-daa/#tab_4


• New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute guideline for substance use disorder treatment in pregnant adults: https://www.hivguidelines.org/substance-use/sud-treatment-pregnancy/


• American Association for The Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)/Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Recommendations for Testing, Managing and Treating Hepatitis C: https://www.hcvguidelines.org/


• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Clinical Practice Guidelines for Viral Hepatitis in Pregnancy: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-practice-guideline/articles/2023/09/viral-hepatitis-in-pregnancy


• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Recommendations for Hepatitis C Testing among Perinatally Exposed Infants and Children (2023): https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/rr/rr7204a1.htm?s_cid=rr7204a1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM116215&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Recommendations%20and%20Reports%20%E2%80%93%20Vol.%2072%2C%20November%203%2C%202023&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM116215


• Ramsey KS, Cunningham CO, Stancliff S, et al.; Substance Use Guidelines Committee. Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Pregnant Adults [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): Johns Hopkins University; 2021 Jul. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572854/


• CEI toll free line for NYS providers: 866-637-2342


• https://ceitraining.org/