Tools Needed to Support Same-Day Diagnosis and Treatment of Current Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Current multiday diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) limits patient access to direct-acting antiviral agents.
• A significant gap exists between diagnosed HCV infections and those receiving treatment, hindering elimination efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for a paradigm shift towards same-day diagnosis and treatment for HCV elimination.
• To identify necessary advancements in diagnostic tools and resource management for improved HCV treatment access.

Main Methods:

• Review of current HCV diagnosis and treatment paradigms.
• Identification of requirements for a same-day diagnosis and treatment model, including point-of-care (POC) testing and resource optimization.

Main Results:

• Multiday testing and treatment result in suboptimal patient engagement.
• Same-day diagnosis and treatment necessitate novel POC tests (antigen, nucleic acid) for HCV, HBV, and HIV, not requiring venous blood.
• Enhanced resource utilization, including expanded HCV treatment access and streamlined approval processes, is crucial.

Conclusions:

• A paradigm shift to same-day diagnosis and treatment is essential for HCV elimination.
• Implementing POC diagnostics and optimizing existing resources will significantly increase HCV treatment rates.
• This approach will improve access to care, particularly in settings with limited patient healthcare encounters.