Ravenhall

Researchers are evaluating the use of finger-stick point-of-care testing for hepatitis C virus HCV infection in people at risk of acquiring HCV. The study aims to see if scaling up this testing approach increases diagnosis and treatment rates. The research addresses challenges in current testing pathways that require multiple visits, which reduce the number of people who receive a diagnosis and treatment. It is an observational study led by the Kirby Institute, focusing on improving HCV elimination efforts in Australia by 2030. Participants will be recruited from various settings serving people at risk, such as drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programs, homelessness services, mental health services, prisons, and mobile outreach. Clinic staff will offer point-of-care HCV RNA testing using finger-stick samples during routine service access. There is no treatment provided as part of this study, but participants who test positive for HCV RNA will be connected to standard care for further evaluation and treatment. Throughout the study, participants who undergo point-of-care testing will be included in data collection. Researchers will monitor the proportion of HCV-infected participants who start treatment within 12 weeks of enrollment, the acceptance rate of testing, prevalence of infection, timing and completion of treatment, and viral response over a year. The study involves ongoing observation linked to routine care, with no intervention beyond testing. Total participation duration varies as the study is observational and ongoing.