Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a worldwide health hazard, and in chronic form (nowadays affecting 50 million people – World Health Organization data) can be lethal. To forestall it, preventive screening is a mandatory approach. Since 2021, Italy conducts a national-wide screening program to eli...

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Main Authors: Nicolò Landini, Chiara Chiericati, Michela Boni, Loredana Simone, Massimo Trombini, Chiara Zanforlin, Caterina Palmonari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92654-w
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author Nicolò Landini
Chiara Chiericati
Michela Boni
Loredana Simone
Massimo Trombini
Chiara Zanforlin
Caterina Palmonari
author_facet Nicolò Landini
Chiara Chiericati
Michela Boni
Loredana Simone
Massimo Trombini
Chiara Zanforlin
Caterina Palmonari
author_sort Nicolò Landini
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a worldwide health hazard, and in chronic form (nowadays affecting 50 million people – World Health Organization data) can be lethal. To forestall it, preventive screening is a mandatory approach. Since 2021, Italy conducts a national-wide screening program to eliminate the virus from its population. The team perfected an innovative method throughout the period between 2022 and 2023, to answer that medical necessity and map HCV genotypes. The medical protocol has introduced a dedicated double invitation model for the adherents, with consequential pre-prepared medical consumables allocated. The population was divided in three separate groups: born between 1969 and 1989, addiction services, and prison. Two screening levels were carried out: anti-HCV antibodies (indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay) and quantitative HCV RNA reverse transcription. 51,283 adherents were registered: 447 resulted positive to the first screening round, and 88 to the second (393 and 77 patients respectively from population born between 1969 and 1989). The medical protocol introduced allowed to substantially increase patients and medical staff compliance to HCV screening (adherence: 51.83%, the highest in Italy). HCV genotypes’ distribution was mapped by patients’ age, biological sex and origin over five groups comprehending subtypes 1a(35.06% of the positive population), 1b(27.27%), 2a/2c(10.39%), 3a(22.08%), 4a/4c/4d(5.19%).
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spelling doaj-art-0bb9aa1bcf3e4c5d90612fccd4f200702025-08-20T03:05:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-92654-wItalian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world studyNicolò Landini0Chiara Chiericati1Michela Boni2Loredana Simone3Massimo Trombini4Chiara Zanforlin5Caterina Palmonari6AUSL – U.O.S.D. Oncology Screenings, Epidemiology and Health Promotion Programs, Local Health Agency of FerraraAUSL – U.O.S.D. Oncology Screenings, Epidemiology and Health Promotion Programs, Local Health Agency of FerraraChemical-Clinical Analysis Laboratory, S. Anna University HospitalDepartment of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, S. Anna University HospitalAUSL – Addiction Service, Local Health Agency of RomagnaAUSL – U.O.S.D. Oncology Screenings, Epidemiology and Health Promotion Programs, Local Health Agency of FerraraAUSL – U.O.S.D. Oncology Screenings, Epidemiology and Health Promotion Programs, Local Health Agency of FerraraAbstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a worldwide health hazard, and in chronic form (nowadays affecting 50 million people – World Health Organization data) can be lethal. To forestall it, preventive screening is a mandatory approach. Since 2021, Italy conducts a national-wide screening program to eliminate the virus from its population. The team perfected an innovative method throughout the period between 2022 and 2023, to answer that medical necessity and map HCV genotypes. The medical protocol has introduced a dedicated double invitation model for the adherents, with consequential pre-prepared medical consumables allocated. The population was divided in three separate groups: born between 1969 and 1989, addiction services, and prison. Two screening levels were carried out: anti-HCV antibodies (indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay) and quantitative HCV RNA reverse transcription. 51,283 adherents were registered: 447 resulted positive to the first screening round, and 88 to the second (393 and 77 patients respectively from population born between 1969 and 1989). The medical protocol introduced allowed to substantially increase patients and medical staff compliance to HCV screening (adherence: 51.83%, the highest in Italy). HCV genotypes’ distribution was mapped by patients’ age, biological sex and origin over five groups comprehending subtypes 1a(35.06% of the positive population), 1b(27.27%), 2a/2c(10.39%), 3a(22.08%), 4a/4c/4d(5.19%).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92654-wHepatitis CPopulation screeningViral genotypesPolymerase chain reactionPreventionHealth system
spellingShingle Nicolò Landini
Chiara Chiericati
Michela Boni
Loredana Simone
Massimo Trombini
Chiara Zanforlin
Caterina Palmonari
Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
Scientific Reports
Hepatitis C
Population screening
Viral genotypes
Polymerase chain reaction
Prevention
Health system
title Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
title_full Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
title_fullStr Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
title_full_unstemmed Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
title_short Italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for HCV elimination (2022–2023) in Ferrara’s province: a real-world study
title_sort italian screening protocol and genotypes characterization for hcv elimination 2022 2023 in ferrara s province a real world study
topic Hepatitis C
Population screening
Viral genotypes
Polymerase chain reaction
Prevention
Health system
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92654-w
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