Many people who are infected with the hepatitis C do not have symptoms. Hepatitis C is often detected during blood tests for a routine physical or other medical procedure. If the infection has been present for many years, the liver may be permanently scarred -- a condition called cirrhosis. In many cases, there may be no symptoms of the disease until cirrhosis has developed.
The following symptoms could occur:

• Jaundice
• Abdominal pain (right upper abdomen)
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Low-grade fever
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Generalized itching
• Ascites
• Bleeding varices (dilated veins in the esophagus)

• Hepatitis virus serology
• ELISA assay to detect hepatitis C antibody
• Hepatitis C PCR test
• Elevated liver enzymes
• Liver biopsy shows chronic inflammation
• Hepatitis C genotype. Six genotypes are present around the world. Most Americans have genotype 1 infection, which has lower response rates to treatment.