Point-of-Care Hepatitis C Testing in a Tribal Setting

Is it feasible to implement point-of-care hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing and same-day treatment in a tribal setting, including a harm reduction site?In this quality improvement study, 405 point-of-care HCV RNA tests were offered, 86% were accepted, and 79% yielded valid samples; HCV was detected among 26 valid samples. Of the samples with HCV, 12 were from American Indian and Alaska Native participants: 9 initiated treatment, 6 the same day, whereas no participants who were not American Indian and Alaska Native initiated treatment.This study suggests that a community-based point-of-care HCV RNA testing program was feasible and was associated with a high percentage of same-day treatment for American Indian and Alaska Native participants.

Corresponding Author: Jorge Mera, MD, Department of Infectious Diseases, Cherokee Nation Health Services, Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, 19600 E Ross St, Tahlequah, OK 74464 (jamanetworkopen@msubmit.net).

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