Avramovic, GordanaOprea, CristianaSurey, JulianStory, AlistairMacías, JuanCullen, WalterIglesias, MariaMc Hugh, TinaCrowley, DesNaughton, Anna MarieHoran, AidanIanache, IrinaLazar, StefanPopa, IonutMenezes, DeeLambert, John S2025-01-072025-01-072019-11-27https://hdl.handle.net/10668/27115Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a main cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and is consistently under-diagnosed. Community-based screening initiatives, such as HepCheck, have been identified as important components of HCV care. HepCheck focuses on screening and identifying HCV RNA-positive cases in high-risk populations and linking them to care as part of a larger European project to improve HCV care (HepCare). HCV testing with a self-administered questionnaire was offered to 2822 individuals. There were 2079 patients screened. Overall, 397 (19%) of the total screened cohort were identified as having active HCV infections as measured by HCV RNA PCR. The patients were mostly male (84%), white (88%), and had a history of injecting drug use (IDU) (86%), homelessness (58%), and tattooing (42%). There were 136 new cases (7% of the total sample and 34% of identified active infections). Romania had the highest proportion of newly identified cases with 87%, then Ireland with 60%, and Spain with 43%; the UK had the lowest proportion of new cases at 10%. For those lost to follow-up, a major strategy is re-engagement. For those newly diagnosed, the 'seek and treat' approach is a key strategy. Thus, different priorities are defined for different countries.enAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Hepatitis CHomelessIntegrated HCV carePeople who inject drugs (PWID)PrisonersScreeningVulnerable populationsAdultDrug UsersEuropeFemaleHepacivirusHepatitis CIll-Housed PersonsHumansMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedRNA, ViralRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesTattooingresearch article31785401open access10.1016/j.ijid.2019.11.0271878-3511http://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201971219304679/pdf