Table 1 Population classification based on the risk of exposure to HCV infection.
Population | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
General population | The wider population in any country that is typically at low risk of exposure to HCV infection | Blood donors, children, pregnant women, and household-based survey participants |
Populations at intermediate risk | Populations at a higher risk of exposure to HCV infection than the general population, but at a lower risk of exposure than populations at high risk | Healthcare workers, prisoners, and patients with diabetes |
High-risk clinical populations | Populations at a high risk of exposure to HCV infection due to frequent exposures to blood transfusion and/or medical injections | Thalassemia, hemophilia, and hemodialysis patients |
Other special clinical populations | Clinical populations in whom the risk of exposure to HCV infection is uncertain | Patients with dermatological manifestations and renal disorders |
Populations with liver-related conditions | Patients with liver-related conditions that could be related to clinical disease manifestations of HCV infection | Patients with liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and chronic liver disease |
People who inject drugs | People who inject drugs who are at a high risk of exposure to HCV infection due to sharing of injecting equipment | - |
