Feasibility and effectiveness of HCV viraemia testing at harm reduction sites in Georgia: A prospective three‐arm study

摘要

Abstract Background and Aims In 2015, Georgia began a hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination programme. Although screening programmes have been decentralized for high‐risk groups, viraemic testing remains a bottleneck for people who inject drugs. Here, we describe two models of viraemic testing that aimed to address this gap. Methods We assigned eight harm reduction sites (HRS) to one of three arms (2,1:1): Xpert HCV viral load testing on‐site, blood draw on‐site with centralized HCV core antigen testing (HCVcAg), or standard‐of‐care (SOC) referral with viremia testing performed at treatment centres. Results 1671 HCV‐seropositive participants were enrolled (Xpert, 37.1%; HCVcAg, 29.1%; referral, 33.8%). Participants were predominantly male (95.4%), mean age (IQR) 43 (37, 50) years and 1290 (77.2%) were currently injecting drugs. Significantly higher proportions of participants in the Xpert (100%) and HCVcAg (99.8%) arms received viraemia testing compared with the referral arm (91.3%) (Xpert vs referral, p?