It is shocking that 200,000 people in France do not know their HCV seropositivity, whereas all the means available depistaghe and treatments are effective, declared Tuesday to The Associated Press John Benedict, a resident of the union biologists.

From a simple blood test, the screening test can identify antibodies showing that the organization has been in contact with the virus of hepatitis C. This test does not need to be fasting. A positive result must be verified by a second test.

In three years, 60,475 people could be tested and the virus was discovered in 750 of them. Of the 4200 medical laboratories spread over the territory, 1,650 were mobilized in 2002, 1,402 in 2001 and 1,100 in 2000.

HCV is transmitted primarily by contact with an infected person’s blood with that of a free person, or through contact with mucous membranes with blood stains be infected. After infection, acute hepatitis C often goes completely unnoticed. In 20-30% of cases, spontaneous healing occurs. In the 70% to 80% of the remaining cases is chronic hepatitis C.

And 10% to 20% of people with chronic hepatitis C have a risk of cirrhosis present after ten years of evolution. Cirrhosis, which makes the severity of the disease, exposes people to complications such as bleeding, severe liver dysfunction and especially liver cancer whose risk is estimated at 20% after 20-30 years evolution of cirrhosis.