Hossain N, et al. - A cross-sectional hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening followed by a case-controlled comparison of the newly screened population with established HCV subjects was conducted. When screening based on birth cohort, the researchers found a slightly lower but similar prevalence of HCV antibody as compared to larger baby boomer studies. Future investigations assessing the addition of other screening strategies or possibly universal screening could be needed.

• The authors offered enrollment to subjects aged 40-75 at their gastroenterology and hepatology clinics.
• They obtained demographic data and potential risk factors.
• HCV antibody test was offered to those who had never been screened and compared with a group with established HCV.
• They performed logistic regression analysis and Fisher’s exact test.

• A total of 675 patients were offered participation.
• Out of them, 128 declined while 50 consented to participate but did not perform the HCV antibody test.
• 252 patients had HCV among 497 enrolled subjects, while 245 subjects (188 patients among “baby boomer”) underwent screening for HCV.
• Among the newly screened group, there were more females (62.4 vs. 41.7%) and immigrants (34.7 vs. 22.2%).
• 5 patients had HCV antibody (2.04%), and 2 of them had positive viral load (0.82%) of whom only 1 fell in the baby boomer category (0.53%) among the screened population.
• Screened group had significantly lower-risk factors, such as IV drug use (1.22 vs. 43.3%), intranasal cocaine use (14.3 vs. 49.6%), and blood transfusion (18.8 vs. 32.5%) compared to HCV group.