Difference between fibrosis and cirrhosis

Fibrosis is any liver scarring. Cirrhosis is characterised by serious scarring (fibrosis) that has been caused by long-term liver damage.

Schedule 1 of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab) includes a description of infection severity levels for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis is one of three ways a person's infection will be considered severity Level 3.

Not all serious fibrosis is cirrhotic. To pay a person compensation at severity Level 3, we must be confident that they have or had cirrhosis or probable cirrhosis caused by their hepatitis infection.