From: WHO guidelines on testing for hepatitis B and C – meeting targets for testing
WHO TO TEST FOR CHRONIC HCV INFECTION | |
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Testing approach and population | Recommendationsa |
Focused testing in most affected populations | 1. In all settings (and regardless of whether delivered through facility- or community- based testing), it is recommended that serological testing for HCV antibody (anti- HCV)b be offered with linkage to prevention, care and treatment services to the following individuals: • Adults and adolescents from populations most affected by HCV infectionc (i.e. who are either part of a population with high HCV seroprevalence or who have a history of exposure and/or high-risk behaviours for HCV infection); • Adults, adolescents and children with a clinical suspicion of chronic viral hepatitisd(i.e. symptoms, signs, laboratory markers). Strong recommendation, low quality of evidence Note: Periodic re-testing using HCV NAT should be considered for those with ongoing risk of acquisition or reinfection. |
General population testing | 2. In settings with a ≥ 2% or ≥5%e HCV antibody seroprevalence in the general population, it is recommended that all adults have access to and be offered HCV serological testing with linkage to prevention, care and treatment services. General population testing approaches should make use of existing community- or facility-based testing opportunities or programmes such as HIV or TB clinics, drug treatment services and antenatal clinicsf. Conditional recommendation, low quality of evidence |
Birth cohort testing | 3. This approach may be applied to specific identified birth cohorts of older persons at higher risk of infectiongand morbidity within populations that have an overall lower general prevalence. Conditional recommendation, low quality of evidence |