hepoatitus c-sexual transmission risk

  dear forum:
  I began a sexual relationship a year ago with someone who has recentlybeen diagnosed with hepatitus (hepatitis) c.  the diagnosis is apparently based on mildly elevated indicators (antibodies, I think)  My understanding is that she's probably had the disease for some time...having had a jaundice/vomiting episode and severe sickness 12 to 15 years ago.  I get conflicting reports from sexually transmitted disease information sources.  They saythat the disease is not sexually transmittable, but then say that it can be transmitted in blood to blood contact (the same way HIV is passed).  But HIV is sexually transmittable.  What I would like to ask is: a. am I at risk of contracting hepatitus (hepatitis) c as a result of sex with an infected person. b. What risks are there that I could pass that on to someone else. c.are there any dead certain tests to determine whether or not I have been exposed or have hepatitus (hepatitis) C?  Thank you.  Gary

[HFHS-MD-dm]

Dear Gary:
I appreciated your question because it gives me an opportunity to talk about hepatitis C and the role of sexual transmission. This is an extremely important subject.  You noted that some of the information seems contradictory but I