WHO’s stance on HCV is to achieve simplification of the use of patient care pathways and diagnostic approaches.
HCV VL assays performed on point-of-care (POC) devices outside of the laboratory and in a clinic near to where patients receive care are being increasingly used as an alternative approach to laboratory-based diagnosis.
WHO already recommends the use of these POC assays for diagnosis and monitoring of other infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, COVID-19 and HIV. Until recently, there had been limited data on their use in improving access to and uptake of HCV testing and treatment.
The international agency promotes a strategy against viral hepatitis with the goal of eliminating it by 2030.
Chronic HCV infection is a major global public health problem with the greatest burden in low- and middle-income nations.
pll/rgh/joe