Prospective evaluation of the impact of repeated whole prison testing for hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in prisons. Universal reception HCV testing is recommended, but acceptance can be suboptimal. To detect and treat missed HCV infections, a high-intensity test and treat (HITT) programme was introduced to rapidly test entire prisons. It remains unknown whether regular HITTs will be required to maintain prison microelimination. We aimed to assess the outcomes of HITTs conducted in a prison 4 years apart with ongoing reception testing.

Methods

A prospective observational evaluation of the impact of HITTs was conducted in January 2020 and February 2024 at Low Newton, a female prison. The outcomes of the reception testing were reviewed in the intervening period to determine the number of newly identified HCV infe

SUBMITTER: Phaw NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11815426 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature