Proposed Amendment to Require Laboratories to Routinely Perform a Confirmatory RNA HCV Test with Positive HCV Result
View Summary of Amendment
The NYC Department of Health is considering a proposed amendment to the Health Code. The proposed amendment to Health code §13.03(b)(3) would require laboratories to routinely perform a confirmatory RNA hepatitis C virus (HCV) test when there is a positive HCV antibody test result.
Most patients are first screened for HCV via an antibody test, which shows whether the patient has ever been infected with the virus; patients testing positive must then receive RNA confirmatory testing, often requiring the patient to return for another blood test. This multi-step testing process results in treatment delays and patients being lost to care: in 2015 in NYC, 22% (1,638) of newly reported patients with a positive HCV antibody test never had a confirmatory RNA test.
The proposed amendment would help ensure that patients infected with HCV are aware of their infection status, and if chronic hepatitis C is confirmed, are promptly linked to medical care and treatment, and are cured.
This proposed amendment is now open for public comment!
All comments must be made by July 27th. You can comment online, by email, mail, fax, or in-person at the public hearing.
A public hearing will be held July 27th from 2 – 4 PM at:
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Gotham Center, 42-09 28th St., Room 3-32
Long Island City, NY 11101-4132
To comment online, you must log in or register. You can then write and submit your comment from the amendment page.
To comment by mail, mail to:
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Gotham Center, 42-09 28th St., CN 31
Long Island City, NY 11101-4132
To comment by fax, fax to:
NYC DOHMH, 347-396-6087
Last Updated on October 22, 2020 by HepFree NYC
Tags: Hep C Policy Updates Public Comment Screening
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