Where are people being tested for anti-HCV in England? Results from sentinel laboratory surveillance

[Guest guest]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120750317/abstract

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 15 Issue 10, Pages 729 - 739

Published Online: 10 Jul 2008

Where are people being tested for anti-HCV in England? Results from sentinel

laboratory surveillance

L. J. Brant 1 , M. Hurrelle 2 , M. A. Balogun 1 , P. Klapper 3 , M. E. Ramsay 1

and the Hepatitis Sentinel Surveillance Study Group1

1 Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK ; 2

Health Protection Agency, Leeds Laboratory, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK ; and

3 Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary,

Manchester, Lancashire, UK

Correspondence to Brant, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections,

Immunisation Department, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK. E-mail:

lisa.brant@...

Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

KEYWORDS

England • hepatitis C • injecting drug use • surveillance • testing

ABSTRACT

Summary. Many people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their

infection and are, therefore. potentially infectious to others. To enable

effective case-finding policies to be developed, an understanding of where

people, and injecting drug users (IDUs) in particular, are accessing HCV

antibody testing is needed. HCV antibody testing data were collected

electronically from 21 sentinel laboratories in England between 2002 and 2006 in

this cross-sectional study. Service types of the physician requesting the HCV

test were identified and classified. Differences in people being tested in each

service type and over time were investigated. Over half a million people were

tested in 5 years. Whilst most testing took place in hospital, a large

proportion of people were tested in community care, particularly in general

practice surgeries and genito-urinary medicine clinics. Younger people were more

likely to be tested in community care, and there was evidence that testing

differed according to ethnic status. IDUs were tested in all parts of the health

services, although the highest proportion positive were from prisons and

specialist services for drug users. Testing increased between 2002 and 2005

whilst the proportion of people testing positive declined. Routine laboratory

data can provide valuable information on where people are being tested for HCV.

Risk exposures should be investigated and testing targeted to people at higher

risk for infection. Local laboratories should review data on testing locations

and proportion positive to inform local initiatives to improve testing and

yield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received November 2007; accepted for publication February 2008

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2893.2008.01000.x

[Guest guest]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120750317/abstract

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 15 Issue 10, Pages 729 - 739

Published Online: 10 Jul 2008

Where are people being tested for anti-HCV in England? Results from sentinel

laboratory surveillance

L. J. Brant 1 , M. Hurrelle 2 , M. A. Balogun 1 , P. Klapper 3 , M. E. Ramsay 1

and the Hepatitis Sentinel Surveillance Study Group1

1 Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK ; 2

Health Protection Agency, Leeds Laboratory, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK ; and

3 Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary,

Manchester, Lancashire, UK

Correspondence to Brant, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections,

Immunisation Department, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK. E-mail:

lisa.brant@...

Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

KEYWORDS

England • hepatitis C • injecting drug use • surveillance • testing

ABSTRACT

Summary. Many people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their

infection and are, therefore. potentially infectious to others. To enable

effective case-finding policies to be developed, an understanding of where

people, and injecting drug users (IDUs) in particular, are accessing HCV

antibody testing is needed. HCV antibody testing data were collected

electronically from 21 sentinel laboratories in England between 2002 and 2006 in

this cross-sectional study. Service types of the physician requesting the HCV

test were identified and classified. Differences in people being tested in each

service type and over time were investigated. Over half a million people were

tested in 5 years. Whilst most testing took place in hospital, a large

proportion of people were tested in community care, particularly in general

practice surgeries and genito-urinary medicine clinics. Younger people were more

likely to be tested in community care, and there was evidence that testing

differed according to ethnic status. IDUs were tested in all parts of the health

services, although the highest proportion positive were from prisons and

specialist services for drug users. Testing increased between 2002 and 2005

whilst the proportion of people testing positive declined. Routine laboratory

data can provide valuable information on where people are being tested for HCV.

Risk exposures should be investigated and testing targeted to people at higher

risk for infection. Local laboratories should review data on testing locations

and proportion positive to inform local initiatives to improve testing and

yield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received November 2007; accepted for publication February 2008

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2893.2008.01000.x

[Guest guest]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120750317/abstract

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 15 Issue 10, Pages 729 - 739

Published Online: 10 Jul 2008

Where are people being tested for anti-HCV in England? Results from sentinel

laboratory surveillance

L. J. Brant 1 , M. Hurrelle 2 , M. A. Balogun 1 , P. Klapper 3 , M. E. Ramsay 1

and the Hepatitis Sentinel Surveillance Study Group1

1 Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK ; 2

Health Protection Agency, Leeds Laboratory, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK ; and

3 Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary,

Manchester, Lancashire, UK

Correspondence to Brant, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections,

Immunisation Department, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK. E-mail:

lisa.brant@...

Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

KEYWORDS

England • hepatitis C • injecting drug use • surveillance • testing

ABSTRACT

Summary. Many people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their

infection and are, therefore. potentially infectious to others. To enable

effective case-finding policies to be developed, an understanding of where

people, and injecting drug users (IDUs) in particular, are accessing HCV

antibody testing is needed. HCV antibody testing data were collected

electronically from 21 sentinel laboratories in England between 2002 and 2006 in

this cross-sectional study. Service types of the physician requesting the HCV

test were identified and classified. Differences in people being tested in each

service type and over time were investigated. Over half a million people were

tested in 5 years. Whilst most testing took place in hospital, a large

proportion of people were tested in community care, particularly in general

practice surgeries and genito-urinary medicine clinics. Younger people were more

likely to be tested in community care, and there was evidence that testing

differed according to ethnic status. IDUs were tested in all parts of the health

services, although the highest proportion positive were from prisons and

specialist services for drug users. Testing increased between 2002 and 2005

whilst the proportion of people testing positive declined. Routine laboratory

data can provide valuable information on where people are being tested for HCV.

Risk exposures should be investigated and testing targeted to people at higher

risk for infection. Local laboratories should review data on testing locations

and proportion positive to inform local initiatives to improve testing and

yield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received November 2007; accepted for publication February 2008

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2893.2008.01000.x

[Guest guest]

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120750317/abstract

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 15 Issue 10, Pages 729 - 739

Published Online: 10 Jul 2008

Where are people being tested for anti-HCV in England? Results from sentinel

laboratory surveillance

L. J. Brant 1 , M. Hurrelle 2 , M. A. Balogun 1 , P. Klapper 3 , M. E. Ramsay 1

and the Hepatitis Sentinel Surveillance Study Group1

1 Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK ; 2

Health Protection Agency, Leeds Laboratory, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, UK ; and

3 Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, Manchester Royal Infirmary,

Manchester, Lancashire, UK

Correspondence to Brant, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections,

Immunisation Department, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK. E-mail:

lisa.brant@...

Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

KEYWORDS

England • hepatitis C • injecting drug use • surveillance • testing

ABSTRACT

Summary. Many people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their

infection and are, therefore. potentially infectious to others. To enable

effective case-finding policies to be developed, an understanding of where

people, and injecting drug users (IDUs) in particular, are accessing HCV

antibody testing is needed. HCV antibody testing data were collected

electronically from 21 sentinel laboratories in England between 2002 and 2006 in

this cross-sectional study. Service types of the physician requesting the HCV

test were identified and classified. Differences in people being tested in each

service type and over time were investigated. Over half a million people were

tested in 5 years. Whilst most testing took place in hospital, a large

proportion of people were tested in community care, particularly in general

practice surgeries and genito-urinary medicine clinics. Younger people were more

likely to be tested in community care, and there was evidence that testing

differed according to ethnic status. IDUs were tested in all parts of the health

services, although the highest proportion positive were from prisons and

specialist services for drug users. Testing increased between 2002 and 2005

whilst the proportion of people testing positive declined. Routine laboratory

data can provide valuable information on where people are being tested for HCV.

Risk exposures should be investigated and testing targeted to people at higher

risk for infection. Local laboratories should review data on testing locations

and proportion positive to inform local initiatives to improve testing and

yield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received November 2007; accepted for publication February 2008

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1365-2893.2008.01000.x