According to the World Health Organization,an estimated 58 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV),yet only about 20%have been formally diagnosed.Traditional laboratory–based ant...According to the World Health Organization,an estimated 58 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV),yet only about 20%have been formally diagnosed.Traditional laboratory–based antibody and RNA assays require infrastructure and trained personnel,limiting their uptake in resource-limited and hard-to-reach settings.The OraQuick HCV self-test(HCVST)is the first World Health Organization-prequalified HCVST,which delivers results in 20-40 min via an easy-to-use gum-swab format.Field evaluations report a sensitivity of about 97%–98%and a specificity of about 99%–100%that are comparable with those of blood-based lateral-flow assays(e.g.,Alere Truline,SD Bioline).Usability studies demonstrated an acceptability rate of over 90%and a correct self-test completion rate of over 85%in key populations.HCVST with the Ora-Quick HCVST kit provides a practical,evidence-based approach to closing diagnostic gaps,particularly among underserved or stigmatized populations.To maximize the public health impact,programs should integrate self-testing into national screening algorithms,ensure linkage to RNA confirmation and treatment,and consider economic and operational contexts.展开更多
文摘According to the World Health Organization,an estimated 58 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV),yet only about 20%have been formally diagnosed.Traditional laboratory–based antibody and RNA assays require infrastructure and trained personnel,limiting their uptake in resource-limited and hard-to-reach settings.The OraQuick HCV self-test(HCVST)is the first World Health Organization-prequalified HCVST,which delivers results in 20-40 min via an easy-to-use gum-swab format.Field evaluations report a sensitivity of about 97%–98%and a specificity of about 99%–100%that are comparable with those of blood-based lateral-flow assays(e.g.,Alere Truline,SD Bioline).Usability studies demonstrated an acceptability rate of over 90%and a correct self-test completion rate of over 85%in key populations.HCVST with the Ora-Quick HCVST kit provides a practical,evidence-based approach to closing diagnostic gaps,particularly among underserved or stigmatized populations.To maximize the public health impact,programs should integrate self-testing into national screening algorithms,ensure linkage to RNA confirmation and treatment,and consider economic and operational contexts.
