Gauld Natalie, Perry John, Jackson Catherine, Gane Ed
Natalie Gauld Ltd, Auckland; Senior Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland.
Gastroenterology, Waitematā District Health Board, Auckland.
N Z Med J. 2020 Nov 20;133(1525):74-83.
To ascertain the feasibility and outcomes of point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in people with risk factors screened in community pharmacies.
Ten pharmacies in the Waitematā District Health Board piloted point-of-care antibody HCV screening with consenting participants. Individuals with a positive HCV antibody result had a confirmatory HCV RNA test performed at a local laboratory, with pharmacist follow-up to discuss the result. RNA positive individuals were referred to their general practitioner for further follow-up including antiviral therapy. Number of tests, number of positives and number treated were collected. Pharmacists completed a survey about their experiences.
Of 192 participants, seven (3.6%) had positive tests on screening, four of whom had a positive RNA assay and received HCV medication, and one of whom had a positive RNA assay but has not yet received treatment. Two had negative RNA results. Pharmacist feedback was very positive with most wishing to continue the point-of-care testing service. Most wanted to be able to treat HCV in order to improve linkage to care.
Pharmacy point-of-care testing with immediate results and pharmacist follow-up of positive results can aid diagnosis of HCV in at-risk populations and help treatment uptake.
确定在社区药房对有风险因素的人群进行丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）抗体即时检测的可行性和结果。
怀塔玛塔地区卫生委员会的10家药房对同意参与的参与者进行了HCV抗体即时检测试点。HCV抗体检测结果呈阳性的个体在当地实验室进行了HCV RNA确认检测，药剂师进行随访以讨论检测结果。RNA检测呈阳性的个体被转介给他们的全科医生进行进一步随访，包括抗病毒治疗。收集了检测数量、阳性数量和接受治疗的数量。药剂师完成了一项关于他们经历的调查。
在192名参与者中，7人（3.6%）筛查检测呈阳性，其中4人RNA检测呈阳性并接受了HCV治疗，1人RNA检测呈阳性但尚未接受治疗。2人RNA检测结果为阴性。药剂师的反馈非常积极，大多数人希望继续提供即时检测服务。大多数人希望能够治疗HCV，以改善与治疗的衔接。
药房即时检测并即时出结果，以及药剂师对阳性结果进行随访，有助于对高危人群进行HCV诊断并促进治疗。
