Implementation of rapid HIV and HCV testing within harm reduction programmes for people who inject drugs: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Including HCV and HIV rapid tests in harm reduction programmes (HRP) for people who inject drugs (PWID) can increase detection of these infections in high-risk populations who do not seek conventional health care. Aims: To assess acceptability and feasibility of rapid HIV and HCV tests in HRP; to identify HIV and HCV prevalence rates in HRP; to identify the percentage of PWID with a reactive test that attend hospital for confirmation and follow-up. Rapid oral tests for HCV and HIV were offered to users of 13 HRP from both mobile units and facility-based centres. A total of 172 HCV and 198 HIV tests were performed, with a refusal rate of 1.7% and 10.4%, respectively. Injectors made up 64.9% of all drug users and 35.1% did not inject drugs. Overall, 20.3% of HCV tests and 2.5% of HIV test were reactive. Only 24 of the 35 reactive HCV could be confirmed (68.6%) and one was false-negative. Of the five HIV reactive cases, only two could be confirmed (40%) with 1 false-positive case. Acceptability of rapid HIV and HCV tests among HRP users was high. The usefulness of oral rapid tests in HRP has been demonstrated, especially in mobile HRP.

KEYWORDS:

• HCV
• HIV
• rapid tests
• IDU
• harm reduction programmes

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all colleagues from the Harm Reduction Programmes participating (SAPS Creu Roja, CAS Lluís Companys, Arrels Lleida, CAS Mataró, CAS Vall Hebrón, Àmbit Prevenció, Creu Roja Tarragona, AEC-GRIS, ASAUPAM, Cases Ocupades, Sala Baluard-ASPB), for their implication in the project and the provided data. Finally, the authors would like to thank The Catalan Public Health Agency, Catalan Government (Agencia de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya), and the CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Laura Fernàndez-López http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6353-3942

Additional information

Funding

OraSure Technologies, Inc. have proportionate the Oraquick rapid test for free.