Hepatitis C Virus Testing in Perinatally Exposed Children

What factors are associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for infants perinatally exposed, and what proportion of infants with perinatal HCV infection are linked to care and treated?In this cohort study including 4548 children born to 3693 birthing parents with probable or confirmed HCV, only 42% of perinatally-exposed infants were tested; testing declined over the course of the study period. Infants of birthing parents with public insurance, known HCV risk factors, or an HCV diagnosis claim during delivery hospitalization had higher testing odds.These results suggest that communication between perinatal and pediatric clinicians and routine assessment for HCV exposure in all children will be critical to successfully implement perinatal HCV testing guidance and improve pediatric HCV care.

Corresponding Author: Rachel L. Epstein, MD, MScE, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Ave, Crosstown Center 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118 (Rachel.epstein@bmc.org).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.