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15th May 2017
Hepatitis tests
GET TESTED FOR HIV AND HEPATITIS – Single test and better treatment available
Health experts in NHS Forth Valley are urging people who may have been at risk of
contracting a blood-borne virus to have a confidential single finger-prick test which can
detect Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV. It’s part of a major campaign to raise the profile of
these illnesses which will include local radio advertising, and posters in shopping centres
and GP surgeries.
Around 3,000 people in the health board area are believed to be infected with Hepatitis C
– known as the silent disease - but so far only around 1,500 have been diagnosed.
Carol Crawford, from NHS Forth Valley’s Blood Borne Virus Managed Care Network,
explained that advances in medication are producing huge dividends with blood-borne
viruses.
She said: “Treatment for Hepatitis and HIV has greatly improved in recent years. For
example, most people with Hepatitis C now only have to take a course of pills for around
12 weeks of pills, compared with the traditional weekly injections for 48 weeks which had
many side effects. And the cure rate is now in excess of 90%.
“Hepatitis B when diagnosed can be treated and monitored to prevent further liver damage
and there is also a highly effective treatment for HIV. This can hugely reduce the viral load
of the infection making it much less infectious to other people. HIV is now considered to be
a long term condition and many people are now dying with HIV and not from HIV.”
Blood borne viruses (BBVs) are viruses which are in the blood and are spread from person
to person by either blood-to-blood contact or by sexual contact.
High risk activities include:
 Receiving a blood transfusion in the UK before 1991
Forth Valley NHS Board
Carseview House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4SW,
Telephone 01786 457243 Fax 01786 470984
E-mail FV-UHB. [email protected]
www.nhsforthvalley.com
Forth Valley NHS Board is the common name for Forth Valley Health Board
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Receiving organ or tissue transplant in the UK before 1982
Receiving dental or medical treatments in countries where infection control
procedures may be poor
Unprotected sexual activity with someone who has a BBV or has been involved in
high risk activities
Injecting or snorting drugs currently or in the past (including anabolic steroid use),
sharing injecting/snorting equipment however long ago even if it was only on 1
occasion.
Carol Crawford added: “It can take as long as 20 to 30 years for serious liver damage
caused by Hepatitis C to become apparent with increasing symptoms, hence the ‘silent
killer’ label.
“Diagnosing and treating people who are unaware of their infection will improve their
quality of life and help prevent future ill health. It will also reduce the risk of onward
transmission to other people.”
People who feel they might have put themselves at risk and would like a blood borne virus
test should either make an appointment at their GP surgery, contact Central Sexual Health
Services (centralsexualhealth.org) or phone the NHS Forth Valley Hepatology Service
direct on 01786 434079.
Issued by NHS Forth Valley’s Communications Department - 01786 457243.