The NHS has uncovered 225 cases of hepatitis C through its at-home testing service, shining a light on a “silent but deadly” virus as part of a nationwide effort to support victims of the infected blood scandal.
Since the service launched in May 2023, more than 100,000 people have ordered free home test kits. Interest surged following the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report in May 2024, with 15,463 tests ordered in just one week.
Hepatitis C is a virus that spreads through blood-to-blood contact and primarily affects the liver. It is often called a “silent killer” because people can live with the infection for years without symptoms. Unfortunately, late diagnosis can lead to severe and sometimes irreversible damage, including liver scarring (cirrhosis) and cancer.
The recent inquiry into the infected blood scandal, which exposed how contaminated blood and blood products infected thousands in the 1970s through the early 1990s, recommended that the NHS do more to “find the undiagnosed.”
More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C during that time, and over 3,000 have died as a result. Survivors continue to live with serious health complications today.
The expanded testing programme is one step in the ongoing effort to deliver justice and care to those affected. By making it easier for people to get tested from the comfort of their homes, the NHS hopes to catch hidden cases early, prevent further harm, and provide timely treatment.
If you think you may have been at risk, ordering a free home test kit could be a simple but life-saving step.
