The Effectiveness of Screening for Hepatitis C in Pregnancy

• Published in: Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada Vol. 32; no. 11; pp. 1035 - 1041
• Main Authors: McDermott, Colleen D., MD, MSc, Moravac, Catherine C., BSc, Yudin, Mark H., MD, MSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-11-2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - diagnosis; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Humans; Mass Screening; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis; prevalence; Risk Factors; screening; Surveys and Questionnaires; prevalence; screening; pregnancy; hepatitis C virus; HCV; Hepatitis C; IVDU; intravenous drug user
• ISSN: 1701-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)34710-7

Abstract Objective To determine the effectiveness of universal versus targeted screening for hepatitis C (HCV) during pregnancy at an urban health care centre. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 653 pregnant women. Patients completed a demographic and standardized questionnaire identifying known risk factors for HCV. Patients then underwent blood testing for HCV antibodies. The effectiveness of screening based on risk factors was determined by comparing the number of women who screened positive for HCV risk factors with those who tested seropositive. Results Of those who entered the study, 0.5% (3/645) tested positive for HCV. HCV risk factor screening showed that 72% answered Yes to one or more risk factors and 28% answered No to all risk factors. Answering Yes to any risk factor was not associated with testing positive for HCV antibodies ( P > 0.05). Screening positive for a high severity risk factor (exposure to intravenous drug use or to the blood of an HCV-positive individual) was associated with testing positive for HCV antibodies ( P = 0.002), but screening positive for a moderate or low severity risk factor was not ( P > 0.05). Conclusion During pregnancy, universal testing for HCV and testing based on the presence of any risk factors for HCV is not recommended. HCV testing based on the presence of high severity risk factors, however, may be warranted.