The UK signed up to the 2016 global health strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health problem. Effective monitoring of hepatitis testing outcomes is required to track progress against targets. National reporting does not include hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections (HBV/HCV) detected by online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services (e-services). We identify HBV/HCV infection rates among individuals using Sexual Health London (SHL), a large e-service.
SHL e-records of individuals receiving reactive HBsAg and/or HepCAb screening results between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 were reviewed. Only at-risk groups are offered HBV/HCV testing, with risks captured via an online triage/consultation. Roche Cobas e801 HBV/HCV screening assay uses a cut-off index of reactivity (COI) to categorise results: low reactive (COI >1–9) and reactive (COI ≥10). SHL refers individuals with any reactive result for confirmatory testing (CT) at a sexual health clinic that provides hepatitis outpatient management. Clinic staff performing the CT access the shared SHL e-record and electronically take over the patient’s care.
67, 718 HBV and 61 064 HCV tests were performed, representing 16% of all kit returns. HBV reactivity was 1.4% (922/67 718): 474 low-reactive, 302 reactive and 146 unconfirmed-reactive. HCV reactivity was 0.3% (163/61 064): 53 low-reactive, 99 reactive and 11 unconfirmed-reactive.
Among individuals with reactive (COI ≥10) screening HBV results, 85% results confirmed, 12% negative and 3% unknown. For HCV, 79% results confirmed, 13% negative and 8% unknown. 57 out of 57 new HBV/HCV infections were electronically transferred. HBV prevalence was 299/67 718 (0.4%). The rate of previously undiagnosed cases detected was 40 out of 67 338 (0.06%) for HBV and 17 out of 61 016 (0.03%) for HCV.
16% of SHL service users received targeted testing for hepatitis in 2021. Testing volumes significantly exceeded and new HBV/HCV diagnosis rates were similar to those reported by sentinel laboratory surveillance. 100% new infections transitioned to care, demonstrating effective integration between online and local sexual health services.