A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types
Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genetically diverse blood-borne pathogen causing liver inflammation and damage. It is one of the global public health problems responsible for claiming thousands of lives every year. Although there are various HCV testing strategies depending on the s...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23809-7 |
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| author | Saro Abdella Abrahim Andrew Radley Sarah K. Inglis Zelalem Kebede Abeje Kebede Getahun Fetensa Andargachew Mulu Wondwossen Amogne Dawit Wolday John Dillon |
| author_facet | Saro Abdella Abrahim Andrew Radley Sarah K. Inglis Zelalem Kebede Abeje Kebede Getahun Fetensa Andargachew Mulu Wondwossen Amogne Dawit Wolday John Dillon |
| author_sort | Saro Abdella Abrahim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genetically diverse blood-borne pathogen causing liver inflammation and damage. It is one of the global public health problems responsible for claiming thousands of lives every year. Although there are various HCV testing strategies depending on the specific circumstances and guidance of local authorities, the proportion of diagnosed HCV cases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is estimated to be less than 5%. This review analyzes and documents evidence for different ways of screening HCV. Methods The updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines have been used as the basis for this scoping review. Retrieved articles were screened and extracted by three independent individuals to make sure that all pertinent literatures were included. Results A total of 8318 records were retrieved from four electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar). Of the total retrieved records and after applying the pre-defined inclusion criteria, we included 51 studies in this review. According to the studies included in this review, three major screening approaches were noted: The universal, targeted, and risk-based HCV screening strategies. Population to screen include the baby boomer cohort, pregnant women, key populations, those experiencing homelessness, adults visiting health facilities, employees, and social event attendants. A “one-stop-shop” HCV testing initiative at different settings, such as prisons, addiction rehabilitation centers, and community dropping centers, were found to increase HCV test uptake among key populations. Integrating HCV screening with the existing HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinics was highlighted to identifying and linking HCV-infected individuals to appropriate care and treatment. Although there are many ways of diagnosing HCV for treatment, identifying those who were reactive for HCV antibody first, followed by an HCV-antigen test for those antibody-positive, were found to be the most cost-efficient way of diagnosing HCV infection. Conclusion HCV screening among pregnant women, the baby boomer cohort, adults visiting health facilities, engaging in injection drug use, incarcerated individuals, and those experiencing homelessness are useful approaches in identifying HCV-antibody positive individuals. An efficient way to reach the most at-risk people is to incorporate HCV screening into community service centers and clinics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ccefbf24f01340ff855bae5ca2d03995 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ccefbf24f01340ff855bae5ca2d039952025-08-20T03:46:15ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-23809-7A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test typesSaro Abdella Abrahim0Andrew Radley1Sarah K. Inglis2Zelalem Kebede3Abeje Kebede4Getahun Fetensa5Andargachew Mulu6Wondwossen Amogne7Dawit Wolday8John Dillon9Health Laboratory Services, Ethiopian Public Health InstituteMolecular and Clinical Medicine, Dundee UniversityTayside Clinical Trials Unit, University of DundeeDepartment of Health Behavior & Society, School of graduate studies, Institute of Health Science, Jimma UniversityHIV and TB Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health InstituteHIV and TB Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health InstituteViral Disease Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research InstituteDepartment of Internal Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Collage of health science, Addis Ababa UniversityHealth Science, McMaster UniversityMolecular and Clinical Medicine, Dundee UniversityAbstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a genetically diverse blood-borne pathogen causing liver inflammation and damage. It is one of the global public health problems responsible for claiming thousands of lives every year. Although there are various HCV testing strategies depending on the specific circumstances and guidance of local authorities, the proportion of diagnosed HCV cases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is estimated to be less than 5%. This review analyzes and documents evidence for different ways of screening HCV. Methods The updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines have been used as the basis for this scoping review. Retrieved articles were screened and extracted by three independent individuals to make sure that all pertinent literatures were included. Results A total of 8318 records were retrieved from four electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar). Of the total retrieved records and after applying the pre-defined inclusion criteria, we included 51 studies in this review. According to the studies included in this review, three major screening approaches were noted: The universal, targeted, and risk-based HCV screening strategies. Population to screen include the baby boomer cohort, pregnant women, key populations, those experiencing homelessness, adults visiting health facilities, employees, and social event attendants. A “one-stop-shop” HCV testing initiative at different settings, such as prisons, addiction rehabilitation centers, and community dropping centers, were found to increase HCV test uptake among key populations. Integrating HCV screening with the existing HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinics was highlighted to identifying and linking HCV-infected individuals to appropriate care and treatment. Although there are many ways of diagnosing HCV for treatment, identifying those who were reactive for HCV antibody first, followed by an HCV-antigen test for those antibody-positive, were found to be the most cost-efficient way of diagnosing HCV infection. Conclusion HCV screening among pregnant women, the baby boomer cohort, adults visiting health facilities, engaging in injection drug use, incarcerated individuals, and those experiencing homelessness are useful approaches in identifying HCV-antibody positive individuals. An efficient way to reach the most at-risk people is to incorporate HCV screening into community service centers and clinics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23809-7HCVScreeningTestHepatitisDiagnosis |
| spellingShingle | Saro Abdella Abrahim Andrew Radley Sarah K. Inglis Zelalem Kebede Abeje Kebede Getahun Fetensa Andargachew Mulu Wondwossen Amogne Dawit Wolday John Dillon A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types BMC Public Health HCV Screening Test Hepatitis Diagnosis |
| title | A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types |
| title_full | A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types |
| title_fullStr | A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types |
| title_full_unstemmed | A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types |
| title_short | A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types |
| title_sort | scoping review on hcv screening strategies population to screen and the test types |
| topic | HCV Screening Test Hepatitis Diagnosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23809-7 |
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