Simultaneous human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis B-hepatitis C point-of-care tests improve outcomes in linkage-to-care: Results of a randomized control trial in persons without healthcare coverage

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Simultaneous human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis B-hepatitis C point-of-care tests improve outcomes in linkage-to-care: Results of a randomized control trial in persons without healthcare coverage

Authors

Bottero, J.,Boyd, A.,Gozlan, J.,Carrat, F.,Nau, J.,Pauti, M. D.,Rougier, H.,Girard, P. M.,Lacombe, K.

Citation
2015
Open Forum Infectious Diseases

2

4
Type
Randomized control trial
Virus targets
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Other targets
HIV
Interventions
HBV testing and linkage to care
HCV testing and linkage to Care
Linkage to care
Screening and diagnosis
Testing
Setting
National
Target populations
General Population
Country of development
France
Target location
France
DOI
10.1093/ofid/ofv162
Testing strategy
Point-of-care antibody test (rapid test), Laboratory-based PCR/RNA (confirmatory) test
Point-of-care antibody test (rapid test)
Laboratory-based PCR/RNA (confirmatory) test
Countries of included studies
France

Health outcomes

Receipt of antibody results,Linkage to care

Testing strategy

Laboratory-based antibody test,Point-of-care antibody test (rapid test)

Abstract

Background. In Europe and the United States, more than two thirds of individuals infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 15%-30% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals are unaware of their infection status. Simultaneous HIV-, HBV-, and HCV-rapid tests could help improve infection awareness and linkage-to-care in particularly vulnerable populations. Methods. The OptiScreen III study was a single-center, randomized, control trial conducted at a free clinic ("Medecins du Monde", Paris, France). Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive 1 of 2 interventions testing for HIV, HBV, and HCV: standard serology-based testing (S-arm) or point-of-care rapid testing (RT-arm). The main study endpoints were the proportion of participants who became aware of their HIV, HBV, and HCV status and who were linked to care when testing positive. Results. A total of 324 individuals, representing mainly African immigrants, were included. In the S-arm, 115 of 162 (71.0%) participants performed a blood draw and 104 of 162 (64.2%) retrieved their test result. In comparison, 159 of 162 (98.2%) of participants randomized to the RT-arm obtained their results (P <.001). Of the 38 (11.7%) participants testing positive (HIV, n = 7; HBV, n = 23; HCV, n = 8), 15 of 18 (83.3%) in the S-arm and 18 of 20 (90.0%) in the RT-arm were linked-to-care (P =.7). In post hoc analysis assuming the same disease prevalence in those without obtaining test results, difference in linkage-to-care was more pronounced (S-arm = 60.0% vs RTarm = 90.0%; P =.04). Conclusions. In a highly at-risk population for chronic viral infections, the simultaneous use of HIV, HBV, and HCV point-of-care tests clearly improves the "cascade of screening" and quite possibly linkage-to-care. Copyright © The Author 2015.

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21 Jan 2021