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Hepatitis C Testing in San Antonio: Who Should Test and Where

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

Hepatitis C Testing in San Antonio: Who Should Test and Where

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. Many people who have it feel fine for years, so the only way to know is a blood test. This guide walks you through getting a hep c test in San Antonio, from deciding if it applies to you to understanding your result.

The steps are the same for every gender and orientation. Testing is a routine health step, not a judgment.

Who should get a hepatitis C test?

The CDC recommends hepatitis C screening at least once for every adult 18 and older. This is a universal, one-time screening, whether or not you have symptoms or known risk factors. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also recommends screening for adults ages 18 to 79.

The CDC also recommends testing during every pregnancy. Some people are advised to test more often. The CDC lists ongoing exposure, such as injection drug use, as a reason for regular testing. Your clinician can tell you how often fits your situation.

Many people never get that first screening. If you are not sure whether you have had a hepatitis C test, a clinic can help you find out.

What you need before you start

  • A photo ID. The Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic requires a current photo ID and does not test anonymously. Other clinics may ask for different things, so check when you call.
  • A list of past tests, if you have one. Any earlier hepatitis C result helps a clinician decide what to do next.
  • A list of your medicines. Bring anything you take regularly.
  • A little time. Some walk-in clinics take a number on arrival, and the line varies.
  • Your questions. Writing them down helps. You can ask about timing, privacy and cost.

You do not need to fast or prepare in any special way for the blood draw or fingerstick. Ask the clinic if they have any instructions.

Step 1: Understand how the hepatitis C test works

The CDC describes a two-step process. It is worth knowing before you go, because the result can come in two parts.

  1. The first test looks for hepatitis C antibodies. Antibodies are proteins your body makes after it meets the virus.
  2. If the antibody test is reactive, the CDC recommends a follow-up test called an RNA test. It looks for the virus itself in your blood.

The reason for step two is that antibodies can stay in the body after the virus is gone. The RNA test helps a clinician tell whether the virus is currently present.

A clinician is the right person to explain what your results mean. They can look at both tests together.

Step 2: Think about timing

If you may have been exposed recently, timing matters. The CDC notes that a test taken very soon after an exposure may not show a result yet. Ask a clinician how timing applies to you. Do not try to work it out on your own.

If you are getting a routine one-time screening and have no recent exposure in mind, you can simply go.

Step 3: Choose where to test in San Antonio

Not every clinic that offers STI testing includes a hepatitis C test. Ask when you call. Here is what the clinics' own pages say. For a longer list of places, see our guide to STD testing in San Antonio and the local testing list.

Alamo Area Resource Center (AARC)

AARC says it offers free testing for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Its page says hepatitis C and syphilis rapid tests are done by fingerstick. Walk-ins are listed Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday until 8 p.m. The address is 303 N. Frio, San Antonio, TX 78207, and the phone is (210) 625-7200.

Kind Clinic, Isom Road location

Kind Clinic, run by Texas Health Action, lists hepatitis C testing among its services. It describes walk-in testing as free. The address is 730 Isom Road, San Antonio, TX 78216. Its locations page says walk-in testing hours differ from regular clinic hours, so call the general support line at 833-937-5463 to confirm. That line is not specific to this location.

Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) runs this clinic at 512 E. Highland, Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78210. The phone is 210-207-8830. Metro Health's page lists a $15 office visit administrative fee, and says other fees vary by service. The clinic serves residents of San Antonio and Bexar County and people with no other way to get STI services.

Its hours are Monday to Thursday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the latest check-in at 3 p.m. On Friday it is open 7:45 a.m. to noon, with the latest check-in at 10:30 a.m. Check-in may close early when the clinic is at capacity. The pages I reviewed describe STI and HIV testing, but do not name hepatitis C testing. Call and ask before you go.

Community health centers with a sliding fee

CommuniCare lists STD and HIV screening and testing at its Apollo Wellness Clinic, 6511 W Loop 1604 N, Ste. 105, San Antonio, TX 78254. The phone is (726) 224-3438, and hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CommuniCare offers a sliding fee discount to self-pay patients with family income under 200% of federal poverty guidelines. CentroMed also lists sliding fee scale pricing by income and family size, at 210-922-7000. Neither page I reviewed names hepatitis C testing, so ask about it.

A note on mailed kits

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) runs Test for Texas, which mails free at-home kits for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. DSHS does not list hepatitis C among them. If you want a hep c test, ask a clinic directly.

Step 4: Call ahead with three questions

A short call can save you a trip. Ask:

  1. Do you offer a hepatitis C antibody test, and can you do the follow-up RNA test if I need one?
  2. What will it cost, if anything, and do you offer a sliding fee?
  3. Do I need an appointment, and what ID should I bring?

If a clinic does not offer hepatitis C testing, ask where they send people. The CDC's GetTested locator can also help you find testing sites by ZIP code.

Step 5: Take the test

A hep c test is usually a blood draw from a vein. Some places use a fingerstick instead, as AARC describes for its rapid tests. Either way, it takes only a few minutes.

A staff member will explain how you will get your results. A rapid test may give an answer during the visit. A lab test may take longer. Ask how and when you will be contacted, and make sure the clinic has a phone number that works for you.

Step 6: Understand your results

Here is what the possible results generally mean. A clinician can confirm what applies to you.

  • A negative antibody result generally suggests the antibody test did not find signs of hepatitis C. If you may have been exposed recently, a clinician may talk with you about timing and retesting.
  • A reactive antibody result usually means the next step is the RNA test. A reactive antibody test alone does not tell anyone whether the virus is currently in your body.
  • An RNA result helps a clinician understand whether the virus is currently present. They will explain what it means for you.

No test is perfect, and results should always be read by a clinician in context.

What happens if more care is needed

The CDC says hepatitis C is curable. Treatment is prescribed by a clinician, and the CDC notes that most people can be cured with oral medicine taken for a limited time. A clinician decides which medicine fits you, and runs any other tests first. Please do not take medicine that was not prescribed to you.

Hepatitis C is reportable to health authorities in many places. Ask the clinic how your result is handled and who sees it. If you are worried about privacy, say so. They hear that question often.

Tips for a smoother visit

  • Go early on weekdays. Metro Health's check-in can close early at capacity, and Friday hours are shorter.
  • Test for other infections at the same visit if you want. Many clinics can do several tests at once. For example, you can read about chlamydia testing and treatment in San Antonio before you go.
  • Bring a friend if it helps. Support is fine, and you can decide how much to share.
  • Ask for a written copy of your result. It is useful if you change clinics later.
  • Ask about cost before you sit down. Not every page lists prices. If a price is missing, the clinic can tell you.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a symptom-free body means there is nothing to check. The CDC recommends one-time screening for adults regardless of symptoms.
  • Stopping after a reactive antibody result. That result is a reason to ask about the RNA test, not an endpoint.
  • Assuming every STI panel includes hepatitis C. It often does not. Ask for it by name.
  • Skipping the question about timing. If an exposure was recent, a clinician can advise when to test.
  • Waiting because of cost worries. Several San Antonio options are free or use a sliding fee. Ask.
  • Not following up on results. If you do not hear back by the date you were given, call the clinic.

Expected results: what to realistically expect

For most people, a hepatitis C test is quick and the visit is short. A negative result is common among adults who get screened once. If a result needs follow-up, the usual path is the RNA test, and then a conversation with a clinician about next steps.

If treatment is advised, the CDC says it is effective for most people. A clinician will explain what to expect for your own situation.

Next step: pick a place and make the call

The most useful step is a short phone call. AARC at (210) 625-7200 and Kind Clinic at 833-937-5463 both list hepatitis C testing, and both describe their testing as free. You can also use the CDC's GetTested locator to look for other sites.

Getting screened once is a normal part of adult health care. You are not alone in asking, and clinics in San Antonio see these questions every day.

Sources