Routine hepatitis C antibody testing in MSM – are we overtesting?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antibody Testing

Hepatitis C virus media coverage favorably impacts on antibody testing in the non-interferon era

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Morales-Arraez ◽  
Manuel Hernandez-Guerra ◽  
Felicitas Diaz-Flores ◽  
Yolanda Nieto-Bujalance ◽  
Jose Garcia-Dopico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Strong Correlation ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Local Newspapers ◽  
Hcv Screening ◽  
Hcv Testing ◽  
Test Result

Abstract Background In the non-interferon era, many patients still remain untested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our aim was to determine if media coverage, number and type of news, can influence the rate of HCV testing. Methods For each calendar year we searched from national, regional and local newspapers for articles published related to HCV between 2001 and 2013 (interferon era) and 2014–2018 (non-interferon era) and the HCV tests performed. Demographics, provider data and test result were collected from patients tested. Results During the studied period, 21 913 press articles were found, and we identified a total of 293 226 HCV tests. A total of 9778 HCV tests from 5237 patients tested positive (1.88%). An inverse correlation was found between media coverage and the number of HCV tests during the interferon era (r2 = −0.558, P = 0.024), where news concerning epidemiology and burden of the disease were more frequent. By contrast, in the non-interferon era a strong correlation was observed (r2 = 0.900, P = 0.019), where news related to treatment prevailed. Conclusion Our results show that media coverage on HCV fluctuate so the type of news. It remains to be prospectively evaluated if well designed publicity campaigns about the benefits of HCV screening and treatment influences on HCV testing.

scholarly journals Sentinel laboratory surveillance of hepatitis C antibody testing in England: understanding the epidemiology of HCV infection

2006 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. BRANT ◽  
M. HURRELLE ◽  
M. A. BALOGUN ◽  
P. KLAPPER ◽  
F. AHMAD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
National Surveillance ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Laboratory Surveillance ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Test Result

This paper describes sentinel laboratory surveillance of hepatitis C antibody testing in England. Demographic and test result data were supplemented by follow-up questionnaires sent to the requesting clinician. Between October 2002 and September 2003 almost 75000 anti-HCV tests were performed in eight sentinel centres. More males were tested than females and over half of those tested were aged 25–44 years. Overall 5·7% (3333/58144, range 2·8–7·7%) individuals tested positive. Follow-up questionnaire data showed that 82% (1043/1277) of the positives had injecting drug use reported as the main risk exposure. The majority of negative individuals were undergoing routine screening as recommended for specific patient groups. Most individuals were asymptomatic. Antibody prevalence was estimated to be 34% in current injecting drug users and 42% in former injectors. Comparing positives to routine national surveillance suggests that only 53% (1782/3333) of diagnosed cases were reported. Sentinel laboratory data can provide valuable supplementary data to national surveillance.

Uptake of hepatitis C antibody testing in patients with end-stage liver disease in Glasgow, 1993-2007

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. e61-e65
Author(s):  
S. A. McDonald ◽  
S. J. Hutchinson ◽  
S. Cameron ◽  
S. M. Bird ◽  
P. R. Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
End Stage Liver Disease ◽  
End Stage

scholarly journals A simple Risk-Based Strategy for Hepatitis C virus Screening Among Incarcerated People in a Low- to Middle-Income Setting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanam Hariri ◽  
Maryam Sharafkhah ◽  
Maryam Alavi ◽  
Gholamreza Roshandel ◽  
Abdolreza Fazel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Negative Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Opioid Agonist ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hcv Antibody

Abstract Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is among the highest priority diseases in custodial settings; however, the diagnosis remains suboptimal among people in custody. This study aimed to validate a short survey for identifying people with HCV infection in a provincial prison in Iran.Methods: Between July and December 2018, residents and newly admitted inmates of Gorgan central prison completed a questionnaire, including data on the history of HCV testing, drug use, injecting drug use, sharing injecting equipment, and imprisonment. Participants received rapid HCV antibody testing, followed by venipuncture for RNA testing (antibody-positive only). Each enrollment question (yes/no) was compared with the testing results (positive/negative).Results: Overall, 1892 people completed the questionnaire, including 621 (34%) who were currently on opioid agonist therapy (OAT); 30% of participants had been tested for HCV previously. About 71% had a history of drug use, of whom 13% had ever injected drugs; 56% had ever shared injecting equipment. Prevalence of HCV antibody and RNA was 6.9% (n=130) and 4.8% (n=90), respectively. The antibody prevalence was higher among people on OAT compared to those with no history of OAT (11.4% vs. 4.0%). History of drug use was the most accurate predictor of having a positive HCV antibody (sensitivity: 95.2%, negative predictive value: 98.9%) and RNA testing (sensitivity: 96.7%, negative predictive value: 99.5%). Sensitivity of the drug use question was lowest among people with no OAT history and new inmates (87% and 89%, respectively). Among all participants, sensitivity and negative predictive value of the other questions were low and ranged from 34% to 54% and 94% to 97%, respectively.Conclusions: In resource-limited settings, HCV screening based on having a history of drug use could replace universal screening in prisons to reduce costs. Developing tailored screening strategies together with further cost studies are crucial to address the current HCV epidemic in low- to middle-income countries.

Evaluation of hepatitis C antibody testing in saliva specimens collected by two different systems in comparison with HCV antibody and HCV rna in serum

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J.J. van Doornum ◽  
A. Lodder ◽  
M. Buimer ◽  
E.J.C. van Ameijden ◽  
S. Bruisten
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Hcv Antibody

Antibody testing and RT-PCR results in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: HCV-RNA detection in PBMC of plasma viremia-negative HCV-seropositive persons

Infection ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Caudai ◽  
M. G. Padula ◽  
I. Bastianoni ◽  
P. E. Valensin ◽  
V. Shyamala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Plasma Viremia ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Rna Detection

scholarly journals Hepatitis C testing trends among large commercially insured populations, 2011–2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Khan ◽  
Jae Eui Soh ◽  
William W. Thompson ◽  
Noele P. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Outpatient Service ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Health Insurance Coverage ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Testing Rate ◽  
Hcv Antibody

ObjectiveWe estimated the rate of hepatitis C testing between 2011 and 2017 among persons with commercial health insurance coverage and compared rates by birth cohort.IntroductionHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common blood-borne infection in the US, and a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Approximately 3.5 million individuals in the US were estimated to have been living with hepatitis C in 2010, and approximately half of them were unaware that they were infected. Among HCV infected individuals, those born between 1945 and 1965 (usually referred to as the baby boomer cohort) represent approximately 75% of current cases. Because of the substantial burden of disease among this age group, CDC expanded its existing hepatitis C risk-based testing recommendations to include a one-time HCV antibody test for all persons born between 1945 and 1965. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) subsequently made the same recommendation in June 2013.DescriptionWe obtained data from the 2011–2017 IBM MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental and Coordination of Benefits databases. These data consist of inpatient and outpatient service claims for persons with employer-sponsored health insurance coverage and their dependents. This analysis was restricted to adults 18 years of age and older with continuous enrollment in a commercial or Medicare Supplemental plan for at least one calendar year during the study period (a 45-day gap in coverage was allowed) who received outpatient prescription drug claims data feeds. Claims for hepatitis C antibody testing were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes (80074, 86803). We defined the annual hepatitis C testing rate as the number of patients with an HCV antibody test claim divided by the total number of study-eligible enrollees in a given calendar year. Testing rates were calculated for persons born between 1945 and 1965 and all other adults.There were 54,298,561 unique adults who were continuously enrolled for at least one calendar year during the study period. Among these, 4,629,040 (9%) had one or more inpatient or outpatient service claim with a CPT code for hepatitis C antibody testing during the study period. The overall estimated annual testing rate increased from 2.2% in 2011 to 5.3% in 2017. The testing rate increased from 1.7% to 7.8% among the 1945–1965 birth cohort and 2.5% to 4.0% in other birth cohorts. The average annual percent change in testing was 30.1% among the 1945–1965 birth cohort and 8.2% among other birth cohorts. Testing rate increased markedly (64.1%) between 2016 and 2017 in the 1945–1965 birth cohort, but not in other birth cohorts (7.7%).In this sample of individuals covered by commercial insurance, hepatitis C testing rates have increased slowly between 2011 and 2016. In 2017, there was a substantial increase in testing rates among the Baby Boomer cohort due most likely to an increase in awareness of CDC and USPSTF recommendations by both providers and individual patients associated with CDC health promotion efforts and increased marketing efforts by drug manufacturers. Efforts should continue to promote and increase the awareness of these recommendations and have people tested and treated for HCV.How the Moderator Intends to Engage the Audience in Discussions on the TopicThis panel will discuss strengths and weaknesses for monitoring hepatitis C testing using alternative data sources including self-reported data, insurance claims data, and laboratory testing data. 

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