Journal of Infection
Volume 60, Issue 5 , Pages 351-353, May 2010

Unselected hepatitis C screening of men who have sex with men attending sexual health clinics

  • Christopher Scott

      Affiliations

    • St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 20 8746 8000.
    • ,
  • Sara Day

      Affiliations

    • St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Emma Low

      Affiliations

    • St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Ann Sullivan

      Affiliations

    • St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Mark Atkins

      Affiliations

    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • David Asboe

      Affiliations

    • St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom

Accepted 29 January 2010. published online 22 March 2010.

Summary 

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C (HCV) between HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasingly being reported. There is limited and conflicting data as to whether HIV negative MSM are at increased risk of infection. Local directorate guidelines recommended HCV testing only in MSM having a sexual transmitted infection (STI) screen who disclosed risk factors. In 2007 we introduced unselected screening into routine practice within our sexual health clinics.

This report reviews the results of this change in our practice. Over 6 months, 3365 MSM attended for STI screening. Of 2309 MSM who agreed to be screened for HCV (69%) the prevalence of HCV was 0.65% (95% CI 0.36–1.1). This is similar to the prevalence of HCV in the general population within England. We conclude that unselected screening of MSM for HCV within our sexual health services is not currently justified.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Screening, Men who have sex with men, MSM

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PII: S0163-4453(10)00047-2

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2010.01.013

Journal of Infection
Volume 60, Issue 5 , Pages 351-353, May 2010

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