RT Journal Article
T1 Towards the elimination of hepatitis C: implementation of reflex testing in Andalusia.
A1 Casas, María de la Paz
A1 García, Fernando
A1 Freyre-Carrillo, Carolina
A1 Montiel, Natalia
A1 de la Iglesia, Alberto
A1 Viciana, Isabel
A1 Domínguez, Ana
A1 Guillot, Vicente
A1 Muñoz, Aurora
A1 Cantudo, Purificación
A1 Franco-Álvarez, Francisco
A1 Reguera, Juan Antonio
A1 Romera, María Angustias
A1 Cabezas, Teresa
A1 Vargas, Julio
A1 Ramírez-Arcos, Mercedes
A1 Guerrero, Inmaculada
A1 García-Navarrete, África
A1 Pérez-Santos, María Jesús
A1 Clavijo, Encarnación
A1 Roldán, Carolina
A1 Guzmán, Antonio
A1 Palanca, Matilde
A1 Torres, Eva
A1 Serrano, María Del Carmen
A1 Lozano, María Del Carmen
A1 Becerril, Berta
A1 Luzón, Pilar
A1 Galán, María Ángeles
A1 Alados, Juan Carlos
A1 García, Federico
AB undiagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and/or inadequate access to care are barriers to the elimination of HCV. Reflex testing has proven to facilitate referral to care, treatment and viral elimination. In this study, a reflex testing program was implemented in Andalusia and its impact on access to care was evaluated. an observational, retrospective and prospective study was performed across diagnostic laboratories responsible for HCV diagnosis in southern Spain. After surveying the barriers to performing reflex testing, the number of patients that were not referred for care in 2016 was retrospectively studied (pre-reflex cohort). Subsequently, several measures were proposed to overcome the identified barriers. Finally, reflex testing was implemented and its impact evaluated. the pre-reflex cohort included information from 1,053 patients. Slightly more than half of the patients (n = 580; 55%) visited a specialist for treatment evaluation during a median period of 71 days (interquartile range = 35-134) since the date of diagnosis. The post-reflex cohort (September 2017 to March 2018) included 623 patients. Only 17% (n = 106) of the patients had not been referred for care or evaluated for treatment in a median period of 52 days (interquartile range = 28-86). in 2016, nearly half of new HCV diagnoses in southern Spain were not referred for care. Barriers to the implementation of reflex testing were overcome in our study. Moreover, this strategy was effectively implemented in 2017. Reflex testing contributed to improving referral for care. This program will contribute to the micro-elimination of hepatitis C in Spain.
SN 1130-0108
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15261
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/15261
LA en
DS RISalud
RD Apr 8, 2025