Pinellas County Offers Free Hepatits A, B and C Testing May 18

To mark World Hepatitis Awareness Day on Friday, May 18, the Pinellas County Health Department will offer free testing for Hepatitis A, B and C at all of its health centers. The tests are for adults only.

"Hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver and also refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. An estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected. About 80,000 new infections occur each year.

For information about Hepatitis, go to the Pinellas County Health Department's Hepatitis Program page at  http://pinellashealth.com/Hepatitis.asp.

The Pinellas County Health Department provides Hepatitis A and B vaccines through its STD clinics. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C.

Hours for Hepatitis testing for adults on May 18 are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at these locations:

St. Petersburg Center

• 205 Dr. M. L. King St. N., St. Petersburg - (727) 824-6900

Clearwater Center

• 310 North Myrtle Ave., Clearwater - (727) 469-5800

Pinellas Park Center

• 6350 76th Ave. N., Pinellas Park - (727) 547-7780

Largo Center

• 12420 130th Ave. N. - (727) 588-4040

Mid-County Health Center 

• 8751 Ulmerton Rd. - (727) 524-4410

Tarpon Springs Center

• 301 South Disston Ave. - (727) 942-5457