Perinatal Hepatitis C screening

Purins A, Mundy L, Hiller JE
Record ID 32007000649
English
Authors' results and conclusions: The number of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected infants in Australia is low, but the potentially chronic and serious sequelae of HCV warrant their identification through screening. HCV screening in Australia is not standardised and the screening approach is determined by the institute or practitioner. The establishment of a standardised methodology for HCV screening would identify more infected infants than are currently identified. Due to the low prevalence in Australia, universal screening is not recommended. Conversely, there is evidence suggesting that screening only those "at risk" would miss approximately 40% of HCV infected mothers, and by inference, their offspring. Evidence is beginning to emerge as to the best times and methods to screen infants for HCV, although this evidence is not strong due to the low numbers of cases.
Authors' recommendations: With the advent of more effective treatment of children with polymerase inhibitors within the next few years, screening infants for hepatitis C will be of growing importance. However, HealthPACT can not assess the effectiveness of pharmacological therapies and have therefore recommended that further assessment of this technology is no longer warranted.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2007
URL for published report: Not Available
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Female
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Mass Screening
  • Neonatal Screening
  • Hepatitis C
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Contact
Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617
Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au
Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au
Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.