Hi Christopher! Thanks for your questions! Hopefully, others can chime in on their experience with this medication, however, this is probably a question best answered by your doctor, since everyone's medical history and HepC experience can be incredibly different. If you're concerned that you may need to have blood work done before your January appointment, it may be a good idea to call your doctor's office and ask if this is something that would be beneficial for your specific case. If you do get a chance to talk with your doctor about this, let us know what they say! We're here for you, and wishing you success with this round of treatment!! -Casey, HepatitisC.net Team