A scoping review on HCV screening strategies: population to screen and the test types

TY - JOUR

T1 - A scoping review on HCV screening strategies

T2 - population to screen and the test types

AU - Abrahim, Saro Abdella

AU - Radley, Andrew

AU - Inglis, Sarah K

AU - Kebede, Zelalem

AU - Kebede, Abeje

AU - Fetensa, Getahun

AU - Mulu, Andargachew

AU - Amogne, Wondwossen

AU - Wolday, Dawit

AU - Dillon, John

N1 - © 2025. The Author(s).

PY - 2025/7/30

Y1 - 2025/7/30

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Diagnosis

KW - HCV

KW - Hepatitis

KW - Screening

KW - Test

KW - Humans

KW - Hepatitis C/diagnosis

KW - Mass Screening/methods

KW - Female

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Male

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105012178954

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-025-23809-7

DO - 10.1186/s12889-025-23809-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 40739221

SN - 1471-2458

VL - 25

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

M1 - 2589

ER -