VIDEO: Hepatitis C screening rises, but where are the positive cases?

VIDEO: Hepatitis C screening rises, but where are the positive cases?

By: PATRICE WENDLING, Family Practice News Digital Network 

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

BOSTON– The number of hepatitis C virus antibody tests increased by 15.4% after the 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention task force recommendation calling for one-time HCV testing in baby boomers, according to preliminary results from an analysis of 4.5 million tests.

Surprisingly, that increase in testing did not lead to an increase in the number of positive tests, which actually declined by 4.1%, R. Monina Klevens, D.D.S., MPH, reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

“This is a huge question that we need to look at for implementation,” said Dr. Klevens, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC.

Video

For a deep dive into the data and to hear what’s next, click here to see an interview with Dr Klevens.

Dr. Klevens reported no financial disclosures.