Table 2 Summary of innovative technologies to provide more affordable and simplified HBV and HCV testing and treatment monitoring
From: The future of viral hepatitis testing: innovations in testing technologies and approaches
Area of Innovation | Technology or strategy | Primary testing target | Potential future testing target | Potential impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Simplification of algorithms | • Elimination of need for genotyping with access to pan-genotypic DAAs, and only a single time point (SVR12) for assessment of cure | HCV | Reduce costs; Improve uptake | |
2. Sampling approaches | • Dried blood spots (DBS) • Oral fluid | • HCV • HCV | Increase access and coverage, reaching key and target populations | |
3. Innovative testing approaches | • Self-testing • Combo integrated multi-disease tests • Integrated multidisease testing platforms (centralised and decentralised) | • HCV • HCV • HCV | • HBV • HBV | Increase awareness, reduce stigma; Maximise programme synergies and reduce costs. Improve access to testing, |
4. New technologies | • Point-of-care (POC) NAT • HCV core antigen test (as laboratory based assay and in future as POC) | • HCV • HCV | • HBV | Increase access to confirmation of viraemia |
5. Health system improvements | • Integrated testing and service decentralization • Data connectivity • Sample chain and supply management | • HCV | • HBV | Improve timely receipt of results and linkage to care; improve supply chain management; Optimize use of current infrastructure, sample workflow |