Baby boomers should get voluntary Hepatitis C screenings, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF's) latest recommendation.
 
“Baby boomers account for three out of four people with hepatitis C,” says Albert Siu, M.D., USPSTF’s co-chair in the agency’s June 25 news release.  “Many people in this age group contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion or unknown or unreported high-risk behaviors.”
 
Asymptomatic adults born between 1945 and 1965, without diagnosed liver disease or abnormalities are to get a one-time screening as well as those at risk for infection—for example, adults who had a blood transfusion before 1992 or used injection drugs. The latter should get regular screenings if they are still using injection drugs.