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

AIDS Care. 2016;28(6):712-6. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1164290. Epub 2016 Mar 23.

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; IDU; harm reduction programmes; rapid tests.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Drug Users* / psychology
  • Drug Users* / statistics & numerical data
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Harm Reduction*
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prevalence
  • Program Evaluation
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / psychology
  • Young Adult