Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: Universal opt-out antenatal screening for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not currently recommened and it is recommended that maternity services offer risk-based testing. We aimed to investigate antenatal HCV testing and adherence to testing guidance.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was circulated to maternity service providers between November-December 2020 which included testing policy, training for healthcare staff, and management of women found to be HCV positive. Descriptive data are presented.
RESULTS: A total of 75 questionnaires were returned, representing 48 % of English maternity service providers. 87 % of providers reported offering antenatal HCV risk-based testing. Risk factors used to identify pregnant women for testing varied. Less than 15 % of respondents considered women that were ever homeless or with history of incarceraton or from higher HCV prevalence areas as high risk.
CONCLUSIONS: Current antenatal HCV testing practices are inadequate and HCV infection likely goes undiagnosed in pregnancy, especially among vulnerable population groups. In the absence of universal antenatal screening, re-framing antenatal HCV risk-based testing and management as a quality improvement initiative and developing HCV specific pathway guidance for maternity units is required.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was circulated to maternity service providers between November-December 2020 which included testing policy, training for healthcare staff, and management of women found to be HCV positive. Descriptive data are presented.
RESULTS: A total of 75 questionnaires were returned, representing 48 % of English maternity service providers. 87 % of providers reported offering antenatal HCV risk-based testing. Risk factors used to identify pregnant women for testing varied. Less than 15 % of respondents considered women that were ever homeless or with history of incarceraton or from higher HCV prevalence areas as high risk.
CONCLUSIONS: Current antenatal HCV testing practices are inadequate and HCV infection likely goes undiagnosed in pregnancy, especially among vulnerable population groups. In the absence of universal antenatal screening, re-framing antenatal HCV risk-based testing and management as a quality improvement initiative and developing HCV specific pathway guidance for maternity units is required.
摘要：
目的：目前尚未建议对丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）进行普遍的产前筛查，建议产妇服务提供基于风险的检测。我们旨在调查产前HCV检测和对检测指导的依从性。
方法：在2020年11月至12月之间向产妇服务提供者进行了一项横断面调查，其中包括测试政策，对医护人员的培训，以及对HCV阳性女性的管理。提供描述性数据。
结果：返回了75份问卷，占英国产妇服务提供者的48%。87％的提供者报告提供基于产前HCV风险的检测。用于识别孕妇进行测试的风险因素各不相同。不到15％的受访者认为曾经无家可归或有监禁史或来自HCV患病率较高地区的女性为高风险。
结论：目前的产前HCV检测方法不充分，妊娠期HCV感染可能无法确诊，特别是弱势群体。在没有普遍的产前检查的情况下，需要将产前基于HCV风险的检测和管理重新定义为质量改进举措，并为产妇单位制定HCV特异性途径指南。
方法：在2020年11月至12月之间向产妇服务提供者进行了一项横断面调查，其中包括测试政策，对医护人员的培训，以及对HCV阳性女性的管理。提供描述性数据。
结果：返回了75份问卷，占英国产妇服务提供者的48%。87％的提供者报告提供基于产前HCV风险的检测。用于识别孕妇进行测试的风险因素各不相同。不到15％的受访者认为曾经无家可归或有监禁史或来自HCV患病率较高地区的女性为高风险。
结论：目前的产前HCV检测方法不充分，妊娠期HCV感染可能无法确诊，特别是弱势群体。在没有普遍的产前检查的情况下，需要将产前基于HCV风险的检测和管理重新定义为质量改进举措，并为产妇单位制定HCV特异性途径指南。
