Point-of-care hepatitis C reflex testing and treatment referral in methadone clinic settings in Hong Kong-a pilot study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

People who inject drugs (PWID) constitute a population group with a high hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden. With the objectives of assessing the HCV prevalence in PWID and determining the proportion requiring treatment who could be linked to care, this study piloted onsite reflex HCV testing at low threshold methadone clinics, with prompt referral of HCV RNA-positive participants for treatment.

Methods

This was a prospective study on methadone clinic attendees in Hong Kong. Questionnaires were completed, finger-prick anti-HCV rapid testing was performed, and positive blood samples were collected for laboratory HCV RNA testing. The proportions of participants along the cascade of HCV care were calculated.

Results

In 2021-2022, after 14 evening screening session

SUBMITTER: Wong NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9471432 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature