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Health authorities are encouraging the public to make use of a free, 'simple' home testing kit for a virus that often shows no symptoms until it has inflicted 'serious damage'.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning regarding hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that attacks the liver. As the virus is often 'silent', countless individuals may be unknowingly carrying it for years, putting themselves at risk of life-threatening complications. In a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, the UKHSA cautioned: "Hepatitis C often shows no signs until serious damage is done.

"It can be treated, so testing is key to help you help reduce your risk." Without treatment, the virus can result in permanent liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, or even liver cancer.

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However, advances in modern medicine mean the virus is now readily curable with a brief course of tablets, provided it is detected early enough.

The UKHSA has identified several groups who may have been unknowingly exposed to the virus. You may face a higher risk if:

• You received a blood transfusion in the UK before 1996, or blood products before 1986
• You have ever shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs
• You have had medical, dental, or cosmetic treatment (such as tattoos or piercings) abroad in unsterile conditions
• You have had condomless sex or shared a razor or toothbrush with someone who may have the virus
• You were born in a nation where hepatitis C is more prevalent, including regions of Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia

People aged 18 and over, and living in England, can receive a free and confidential home testing kit on the NHS.

• Order: Request a free kit online
• Sample: Use the kit to prick your finger and collect a small amount of blood
• Post: Send the sample to the lab in the pre-paid packaging provided
• Results: You will be contacted within two weeks. If the result is positive, an NHS professional will call you to discuss the next steps

While hepatitis C treatment previously required painful injections with considerable side effects, the virus is now managed with a straightforward course of tablets typically lasting between 8 to 12 weeks. These contemporary treatments have minimal side effects and successfully cure the overwhelming majority of patients.

If you're worried about your risk or wish to request a kit, you can visit the official NHS website to verify your eligibility and safeguard your health.