To determine if you have contracted the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to monitor treatment of the infection. What is Hepatitis C? Inflammation of the liver due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is usually spread by blood transfusion, hemodialysis(cleaning the blood with a machine since the kidneys don't work), and needle sticks. HCV causes most transfusion-associated hepatitis, and the damage it does to the liver can lead to cirrhosis and cancer.