Development and optimisation of a reception testing protocol designed to eliminate HCV in the UK prison population.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Micro-elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in high-risk populations is a feasible approach towards achieving the World Health Organization's targets for viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. Prisons represent an area of high HCV prevalence and so initiatives that improve testing and treatment of residents are needed to eliminate HCV from prisons. This initiative aimed to improve the HCV screening and treatment rates of new residents arriving at prisons in England.

Methods

A rapid test and treat pathway was developed and implemented in 47 prisons in England between May 2019 and October 2021 as a healthcare service improvement initiative. Prison healthcare staff performed opt-out HCV testing for all new residents at each prison within 7 days of arrival, and

SUBMITTER: Mongale E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10758963 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature