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HBV testing program linked many to care
Hepatitis B testing programs in three cities identified 310 people with the infection and referred 86% of these individuals to care, according to a report in MMWR.
The cities, New York, Minneapolis-St. Paul and San Diego, were three of nine sites awarded funds by the CDC in 2012 to implement HBV screening programs and link infected individuals to care. In total, 4,727 people were tested at the three sites, and 91% of the people who were screened were from countries with a high HBV prevalence.
Among the estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people in the United States with HBV, approximately 70% were born in areas where HBV is endemic, mainly certain countries in Africa and Asia. The CDC recommends testing for individuals living in the United States who were born in these areas, according to the report.
In New York, the African Services Committee implemented the screening program. From October 2012 to March 2014, it tested 1,732 people, and 145 (8.4%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Among the positive individuals, 131 (90%) received their test results, 123 (85%) were referred for medical evaluation and 81 (56%) attended the first medical visit.
In Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota’s Refugee Health Program implemented the program and 1,800 refugees were tested. Most (84%) were from Burma and Somalia. Among those tested, 117 (6.5%) were positive for HBsAg, 111 (95%) of those received counseling and 106 (91%) were referred for medical evaluation. All of those referred attended the first medical visit.
Lastly, the University of California at San Diego launched the HBV program and 1,195 people were tested, of whom 67% were from Vietnam or the Philippines. Forty-eight individuals (4%) were positive for HBsAg, and most of them (88%) were from Vietnam or the Philippines. All 48 people were informed of their results, 39 (81%) were referred for medical care and 16 (33%) attended the first visit.
“In cities with large populations of persons born in Asia and Africa, community-based efforts to screen foreign-born persons from countries with intermediate or higher HBV infection prevalence can identify substantial numbers of persons with chronic HBV infection,” the researchers wrote. “Culturally and linguistically specific approaches were necessary in all phases of these initiatives.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.