(a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may (directly and through grants to public and
nonprofit">
nonprofit private entities) provide for programs to carry out the following:
(1) To cooperate with the States in implementing a national system to determine the incidence of hepatitis C virus infection (in this section referred to as HCV infection) and to assist the States in determining the prevalence of such infection, including the reporting of chronic HCV cases.
(2) To identify, counsel, and offer testing to individuals who are at risk of HCV infection as a result of receiving blood transfusions prior to July 1992, or as a result of other risk factors.
(3) To provide appropriate referrals for counseling, testing, and medical treatment of individuals identified under paragraph (2) and to ensure, to the extent practicable, the provision of appropriate follow-up services.
(4) To develop and disseminate public information and education programs for the detection and control of HCV infection, with priority given to high risk populations as determined by the Secretary.
(5) To improve the education, training, and skills of health professionals in the detection and control of HCV infection, with priority given to pediatricians and other primary care physicians, and obstetricians and gynecologists.
(b) Laboratory procedures The Secretary may (directly and through grants to public and
nonprofit">
nonprofit private entities) carry out programs to provide for improvements in the quality of clinical-laboratory procedures regarding hepatitis C, including reducing variability in laboratory results on hepatitis C antibody and PCR testing.
