What We Do

What we do
What We Do

Accurate information. Meaningful help. Free of charge and confidential.

BC Toll-Free Hepatitis C Peer-to-Peer Helpline – 888-411-7578

Help for hepatitis C is just a toll-free phone call away. Because most of our counsellors have had their lives touched in one way or another by hepatitis C, we understand the challenges you face. And our special training and experience as peer counsellors enable us to help you in ways you may not have even considered. We can refer you to a doctor, testing, a support group, help you understand PharmaCare and other financial assistance for treatment and much more.

Just know that you don’t have to do this alone and you don’t need to learn everything in one call or in one day. Think of this as a journey and we’re your travel companions or maybe even your tour guide.

We’re not nurses or doctors. We’re simply good people totally focused on hepatitis C who care deeply about helping others.

Help4HepBC is modelled after our US partner, Help4Hep. Help4Hep (US) must be doing something right: 100% of the people who call say that connecting with a peer counsellor was a “positive experience” and 95% are more ready to “take care of their health.” We aim to provide the same quality service here in British Columbia.

How to Get Tested for Hepatitis C

Initial Hepatitis C Screening:

Hepatitis C Antibody Test

This is the first step to finding out if you have hepatitis C. A positive hepatitis C antibody test means you have been exposed to the virus sometime. It doesn’t confirm that you still have the virus. If the hepatitis C antibody test result is positive a second blood test is needed to find out if you currently have the hepatitis C virus in your blood. YOU CAN HAVE A POSITIVE ANTIBODY TEST AND STILL NOT HAVE HEPATITIS C. Call us if you have questions or need assistance getting this test or the confirmatory test. Call now – 877‑435‑7443

Confirmation Test for Positive Hep-C Antibody Screening:

Hepatitis C Quantitative PCR (confirmatory test) also called an RNA test.

This is the confirmatory test to see if you actually have the hepatitis C virus in your blood. Call us if you have questions or need help getting this confirmatory test.

Hepatitis C Genotype Test:

There are several types of hepatitis C. They are called genotypes.

Testing to see which genotype you have is needed so your doctor can decide which drugs are needed to cure you and for how long you should be treated. Call us if you have questions or need assistance getting a genotype test.

Resistance Testing:

Some hepatitis C viruses are resistant to treatment.

Testing for resistance may be needed to determine the duration of treatment and possibly additional drugs. Call us if you have questions or need assistance getting a resistance test.