Oral Swab Test Evaluated for Hepatitis C Virus

An oral swab test for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies has been developed and tested in a community setting.

The OraQuick HCV rapid antibody test was evaluated in community-based organizations (CBOs) serving populations at high risk for HCV infection and is based on the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for fingerstick blood.

Individuals who met HCV risk criteria were tested by oral swab rapid test and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) HCV antibody test via blood draw at six CBO test sites under the auspices of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (New York, NY, USA). The OraQuick device was evaluated by comparing results to the EIA and performing confirmatory ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for discordant results. The perceptions of research staff were assessed through a short survey at the end of each patient visit, and during a focus group discussion at the conclusion of the study around the potential benefits and challenges of using the rapid testing platform in the CBO setting.

Overall, 97.5% of rapid test results matched those of the EIA. In six of the seven discordant pairs, the rapid test result agreed with the confirmatory PCR result. Research staff preferred using the rapid test and identified challenges with phlebotomy and locating clients to provide results that would be overcome with rapid testing. CBOs would benefit from reduced risk of needle stick injury to staff and increased testing capacity, while clients may benefit from a less invasive testing procedure and more rapid access to education, counseling, and referrals.

The OraQuick rapid HCV test (OraSure Technologies, Inc.; Bethlehem, PA, USA) has accuracy comparable to the current standard EIA test. HCV screening programs serving high-risk populations can potentially reach a larger number of individuals and expand testing into nontraditional settings using rapid testing technology. John Bartlett, MD, a professor at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MA, USA) and an independent observer noted that "The HCV test appears to be a major advance, as with HIV (human immunosuppressive virus) in 1996, most people who have HCV don't know it, and there are now great treatment options in rapid evolution. The ability to do this with saliva instead of fingerstick blood is an advantage, but it needs to be shown that the saliva test is as good as the fingerstick test." The findings were presented during August 14-17, 2011, at the National HIV Prevention Conference held in Atlanta (GA, USA).

Related Links:
New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
OraSure Technologies
Johns Hopkins University