Acceptability of hepatitis C virus testing methods among injecting drug users

White, B; Day, C; Thein, HH; Doab, A; Bates, A; Holden, J; Van Beek, I; Maher, L

Acceptability of hepatitis C virus testing methods among injecting drug users

White, B Day, C Thein, HH Doab, A

Bates, A Holden, J Van Beek, I Maher, L

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Drug and Alcohol Review, 2008, 27 (6), pp. 666 - 670
Issue Date:: 2008-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	White, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Day, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Thein, HH	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Doab, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8204-2217	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bates, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Holden, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Van Beek, I	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Maher, L	en_US
dc.date.issued	2008-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Drug and Alcohol Review, 2008, 27 (6), pp. 666 - 670	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0959-5236	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/28477
dc.description.abstract	Introduction and Aims. The acceptability of testing methods and procedures has implications for uptake of blood-borne virus screening in sentinel samples of injecting drug users (IDUs) likely to participate in surveillance. The aim of the current study was to determine the acceptability of three methods of hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among injecting drug users (IDUs): oral fluid, capillary blood and venous blood sampling. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional survey of IDUs was conducted in inner-city Sydney in 2005 for a laboratory validation study of HCV antibody testing. Participants were tested using the three different specimen collection methods and asked about the acceptability of each method and a particular preference documented. Results. Two-hundred and twenty-nine IDUs participated in the study. Before and after specimen collection, the acceptability of all three collection methods for HCV testing was high (>85%). Oral fluid remained the preferred method after sample collection, with females (65%) significantly more likely than males (49%) to report a preference (unadjusted odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.5, p=0.03) for that method. Discussion and Conclusions. Findings suggest that oral fluid testing is an acceptable and preferred alternative for HCV testing among IDUs. However, concerns reported by participants in the study indicate that information and education regarding the nature and diagnostic value of oral fluid testing is necessary prior to its implementation for surveillance purposes among this population.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Drug and Alcohol Review	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/09595230801956116	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Saliva	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hepatitis C	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Substance Abuse, Intravenous	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hepatitis C Antibodies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Mass Screening	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Specimen Handling	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Blood Specimen Collection	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sensitivity and Specificity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sex Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Patient Acceptance of Health Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Drug Users	en_US
dc.title	Acceptability of hepatitis C virus testing methods among injecting drug users	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	27	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	27	en_US

Abstract:

Introduction and Aims. The acceptability of testing methods and procedures has implications for uptake of blood-borne virus screening in sentinel samples of injecting drug users (IDUs) likely to participate in surveillance. The aim of the current study was to determine the acceptability of three methods of hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among injecting drug users (IDUs): oral fluid, capillary blood and venous blood sampling. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional survey of IDUs was conducted in inner-city Sydney in 2005 for a laboratory validation study of HCV antibody testing. Participants were tested using the three different specimen collection methods and asked about the acceptability of each method and a particular preference documented. Results. Two-hundred and twenty-nine IDUs participated in the study. Before and after specimen collection, the acceptability of all three collection methods for HCV testing was high (>85%). Oral fluid remained the preferred method after sample collection, with females (65%) significantly more likely than males (49%) to report a preference (unadjusted odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.5, p=0.03) for that method. Discussion and Conclusions. Findings suggest that oral fluid testing is an acceptable and preferred alternative for HCV testing among IDUs. However, concerns reported by participants in the study indicate that information and education regarding the nature and diagnostic value of oral fluid testing is necessary prior to its implementation for surveillance purposes among this population.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/28477