HCV Self-Screening Systematic Review

Project Summary

An estimated 58 million people currently live with chronic Hepatitis C globally and an additional 1.5 million new infections occur every year. Despite advancements in technology and the availability of an HCV cure, the standard diagnostic strategies and treatments are not accessible to all HCV affected populations, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Recent innovations to screen for HCV, such as self-testing and self-sampling for home-based diagnosis of HCV infection, and digital interventions such as e-health, m-health, telehealth, social media and web-based strategies have provided promise of an improved access to care. The Pant Pai lab is currently evaluating evidence on the implementation of self-screening strategies for HCV as well as the digital initiatives which support them. This review will help inform how self-screening strategies for HCV can be supported by digital innovations and scaled up globally. The PROSPERO registered protocol (CRD42021277801) can be found online.