Resources: Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C

ASHM offers an online learning module to help you learn more about point-of-care testing.

Following the advent of well-tolerated, simple, short-course direct acting antiviral (DAA) interferon-free HCV treatments with cure rates >95%, there is potential to reverse the rising burden of advanced liver disease and achieve the goal of global HCV elimination. Simplifying HCV testing, diagnosis and linkage to care is crucial to meeting elimination targets. Point-of-care tests provide an opportunity for testing people who may not otherwise seek testing from medical settings and will greatly enhance linkage to care in community settings.

This online learning module consists of 3 individual modules and a short assessment that introduce the topics of HCV point-of-care testing, options for sample collection, the pathway to diagnosis and sharing results. The modules do not need to be completed in one sitting, you can come back to them at any time.

Use your MyASHM login to access or create a free account.

Click here to start the module now.

On the 10th and 11th of March 2022, ASHM, in collaboration with Hepatitis Australia convened a sector round table. This roundtable discussed the opportunities and challenges of implementing expanded sustainable testing strategies for hepatitis C infection in Australia, including Point-of-Care and Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing and optimising current laboratory-based testing to enhance diagnosis and linkage to care in Australia. The aim of the roundtable was to identify and progress key policy outcomes and implementation strategies.

Videos recordings are available below.

National Roundtable: Addressing challenges to improve access to hepatitis C diagnostic testing to enhance treatment in Australia, held 10 -11 March 2022.

View the Summary Paper HERE

Welcome and Opening Session:

Key Question 1: What are the current implementation challenges for optimising laboratory-based HCV testing in Australia?

Key Question 2: What are the current implementation challenges for optimising point-of-care and dried-blood-spot testing in high prevalence settings in Australia?

Key Question 3: What are the current implementation challenges for optimising point-of-care and dried-blood-spot testing in low prevalence settings in Australia?

Closing session: