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Screening for hepatitis C in sexual health clinic attendees

M Cristina Mapagu1, Sarah J Martin, Marian J Currie

  • 1Westmead Hospital, PO Box 533, Wentworthville, NSW 2145, Australia.

Sexual Health
|March 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Routine Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening in sexual health clinics is effective. Clinician-led risk assessment accurately identified most HCV infections, demonstrating its value in detecting the virus.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is elevated in sexual health clinic attendees.
  • Screening strategies include risk assessment or universal testing.
  • This audit evaluated routine HCV screening in a sexual health center.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of routine Hepatitis C virus screening.
  • To determine the value of clinician-led risk assessment for HCV detection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective audit of medical records and pathology data (2000-2002).
  • Analysis of 3845 HCV tests from 3156 individuals.
  • Identification of known diagnoses and risk factors at the time of testing.

Main Results:

  • 95 patients (3.0%) had confirmed HCV infection; 29 (30.5%) were new diagnoses.
  • Injecting drug use was reported by 85.3% of patients with HCV.
  • Risk factor assessment identified all but one positive case.

Conclusions:

  • Clinician-led risk assessment is an effective strategy for HCV screening.
  • Routine HCV testing in sexual health centers can identify new cases.
Abstract

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