Comparison of hepatitis C virus testing recommendations in high-income countries

Table 1 Hepatitis C virus testing recommendations from the top quartile of human development index countries

Countries and approving bodies	Yr Recommendations approved	Abnormal Aminotransferases	Acute hepatitis or hepatitis symptoms	Being immunized/receiving a medical procedure in a specified country where hepatitis C is common or lack of universal precautions	Birth cohort/age recommendations or one-time testing for all	Blood/clotting factor transfusion Patients/ Transplant Patients	Body Piercing or Tattoo History	Children born to HCV-infected mothers (expectant mothers)	Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis,or fibrosis	Contact tracing /exposure to infected blood, shared hygiene materials with HCV + person	Donors - blood, blood product,tissue or organ	Drug users - injecting	BDrug users - intranasal	Healthcare workers (public safety) at risk and/or post-exposure	Hemodialysis history or repeatedpercutaneous injections	Hemophilia history	Hepatitis A or B history (or non-A/non-B hepatitis)	HIV-positive patients	Homeless	Immigrants or visitors from countrieswhere HCV is endemic	Incarceration history alone or with additional risk factors	Liver cancer	Living with or sexual partner ofHCV-positive person	MSM, limited to HIV + MSM (with or without unprotected sex), or sexually active starting PrEP	Multiple Sex Partners, history of STIs, or high risk sexual behaviors	Patient request, percutaneous-parenteral exposure, prior positive HCV test	STI clinic (+/- any risk factors)
Argentina	2016	X	X	X	X	X		X				X	X		X		X						X		X	X
Dirección de Sida y ETS, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación
Australia	2016	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X		X	X		X	X	X	X	X		X	X
National HCV Testing Policy Expert Reference Committee
Canada	2017 and 2009	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X		X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X				X	X
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
Chile	2015	X			X	X		X	X			X		X	X	X		X				X	X
Ministerio de Salud de Chile (Chilean Ministry of Health)
Denmark	2013	X				X		X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X		X
Sundhedsst-yrelsen (Danish Health Authority)
Finland	2016			X	X	X	X	X			X	X	X					X		X	X			X	X
Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö (Social and Health Ministry)
France	2014	X		X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X		X			X		X	X		X	X
ANRS/AFEF with Ministère des Affaires sociales et de la Santé (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health)
Greece	2017	X			X	X		X				X			X		X	X		X	X		X		X	X
Υπουργειο ΥγειαΣ (Ministry of Health)
Ireland	2012	X		X		X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X		X	X		X	X		X	X		X
Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhise Slainte
Italy	2005					X						X			X								X		X	X
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Japan	2011				X
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Russian Federation	2017		X			X		X	X	X	X	X		X	X		X				X		X	X	X
Министерство здравоохранения (Ministry of Health)
Spain	2015					X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X		X	X			X		X	X		X
Ministeriode Sanidad, Servicios Socialese Igualdad (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality)
Switzerland	2013	X	X	X		X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X	X		X	X	X	X	X		X
Bundesamt für Gesundheit (Swiss Federal Office of Public Health)
United Kingdom	2015 and 2012	X		X		X	X	X				X							X	X	X		X	X		X	X
NHS and National Inst for Health and Care Excellence
United States	2017	X			X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X			X			X			X		X
HCV Guidance Panel

HCV: Hepatitis C virus; MSM: Men who have sex with men; HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; STI: Sexually transmitted infection; X denotes that category is advised for testing.