Unless you have a risk factor for a new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, it is probably not new. A more likely explanation is that you have had more than one HCV genotype all along. When there are multiple genotypes, typically the genotype test shows whichever genotype is predominant, and sometimes these can switch.

Having more than one HCV genotype is not rare. In fact, studies estimate the rate of this occurrence to be between 5% and 10%. When multiple genotypes show up during testing, your medical provider chooses medications meant to treat the genotypes you have. If you are treated with medications that are active only against certain genotypes, this could allow others to become dominant. Fortunately, many of the latest HCV medicines treat all genotypes.

For more information about hepatitis C and its genotypes, click here.