Authors' objectives: In 2017, an Irish National Clinical Guideline for Hepatitis Screening was endorsed by the Minister for Health which conditionally recommended offering once-off testing for hepatitis C to people born between 1965 and 1985 (that is, birth cohort testing), subject to the outcome a health technology assessment (HTA). Following publication of the National Clinical Guideline, HIQA commenced work on a HTA which aimed to establish the clinical, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of introducing birth cohort testing for hepatitis C in Ireland.

Authors' methods: This research was carried out in accordance with HIQA’s guidelines for the conduct of HTAs. As part of the HTA, the epidemiology of HCV in Ireland was assessed, the diagnostic accuracy of tests for diagnosing chronic HCV infection was reviewed in addition to the safety and effectiveness of therapies used to treat chronic HCV infection. Systematic reviews of the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory-based tests using dried blood spot samples and the cost-effectiveness of population-based testing strategies for identifying people with undiagnosed chronic HCV infection were also undertaken. An economic model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of the potential introduction of birth cohort testing in Ireland. Finally, analyses of the organisational and ethical implications of the proposed introduction of birth cohort testing were undertaken. The draft HTA was made available for a six-week public consultation period, during which members of the general public and stakeholder organisations had the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft HTA report. Changes were made to the HTA report, as appropriate, following the public consultation. The HTA was supported by an Expert Advisory Group with representation from the Department of Health, the National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme, the National Virus Reference Laboratory, the National Programme for Pathology, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, clinicians with specialist expertise in infectious diseases, the National Screening Service, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the Irish College of General Practitioners, relevant patient advocacy groups and methodological experts.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/hta-birth-cohort-testing-hepatitis-c

Year Published: 2021

URL for published report: https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2021-07/HTA-of-birth-cohort-testing.pdf

Requestor: Department of Health

URL for additional information: https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2021-07/HTA-of-birth-cohort-testing_Appendix.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Country: Ireland

Organisation Name: Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)

Contact Address: Health Information and Quality Authority, George's Court, George's Lane,Smithfield, Dublin 7. PH : + 353 (01) 814 7464

Contact Name: info@hiqa.ie

Contact Email: info@hiqa.ie