Monitoring of HCV testing in low-threshold drug services

Monitoring of the testing for hepatitis C has been implemented in low-threshold services in Germany, Romania, Portugal and Finland. Low-threshold services were selected as they attract a considerable number of active drug users who might be engaged in risk behaviour. Due to the number of drug users visiting low-threshold services, this setting provides a good opportunity to screen for risk behaviour and the need for HCV testing. Most often lowthreshold services do not monitor the prevalence of infectious diseases among their clients. Therefore the monitoring aimed at collecting data on the proportion of drug users who have been tested for HCV, the prevalence of HCV and the number of drug users that should be tested for hepatitis C.

This report is a product of the European Hepatitis C Initiative. Responsible partner: Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research Centre of Hamburg University, Germany

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