The National Australian HCV Point-of-Care Testing Program

NCT ID: NCT05042544

Last Updated: 2024-06-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

40000 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-02-22

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The National Australian HCV Point-of-Care Testing Program will establish an observational cohort to evaluate whether scale-up of finger-stick point-of-care HCV testing increases diagnosis and treatment for HCV infection. Participants will be recruited from settings providing services to people with a risk factor for the acquisition of HCV infection (including drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programs, homelessness settings, mental health services, prisons, and mobile outreach). Participants will attend a single visit to have their HCV RNA status tested and complete a self-administered survey. Participants will not receive treatment as a part of this study. Participants who are HCV RNA positive will be linked to standard of care.

Detailed Description

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The advent of simple direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C (HCV) therapies with cure rates \>95% is one of the greatest medical advances in decades, having led to a reversal in liver-related mortality. In Australia, treatment uptake has declined between 2016 (32,000 treated) and 2019/20 (2019: 11,500; 2020: 8,500).1 Progress towards HCV elimination has been impeded by COVID-19, affecting the delivery of national and state-based HCV strategies. Improving HCV treatment uptake to reduce disease burden is a key aim of global, national and state-based HCV strategies.2-4

Scale-up of HCV testing and treatment will be required to achieve elimination by 2030. Current diagnostic pathways require multiple visits to a practitioner reducing the proportion who receive a diagnosis. In Australia, 81% of people have had HCV antibody testing (indicates exposure), but only 47% have been HCV RNA tested (indicates active infection and the need for HCV treatment).5 Mathematical modelling suggests that HCV RNA testing needs to increase by at least 50% annually to achieve elimination in Australia by 2030.6

The Kirby Institute is an international leader in research evaluating the Xpert HCV assay (Grebely Lancet Gastro Hep 2017), having built a large network of Xpert platforms for HCV testing in needle and syringe programs, prisons, drug treatment clinics, tertiary hospitals, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. In Kirby-led research, point-of-care HCV testing interventions in needle and syringe programs and prisons have resulted in high HCV treatment uptake (70-90%). The Kirby Institute and Flinders University also have a strong track record of implementing point-of-care testing for STIs and COVID-19, providing an ideal foundation to scale-up Xpert HCV testing in Australia.

The Kirby Institute and Flinders University will establish the Australian National HCV Point-of-care Testing Program for the scale-up of point-of-care HCV RNA testing in services with high prevalence of HCV infection, including community health centres, drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programs, and prisons. This program will include the development of standard operating procedures, logistics/deployment, initial set-up, an operator training program, and quality assurance and competency assessment program.

An observational cohort study that will be established to evaluate HCV treatment uptake following scale-up of point-of-care HCV testing among people with a risk factor for acquisition of HCV infection or people attending a service caring for people with risk factors for the acquisition of HCV infection. This study will also include the linkage of survey data to a range of administrative datasets which will be used to evaluate the impact of HCV testing and treatment scale-up on a range of long-term health outcomes.

Participants will be recruited from settings that provide services to people with a risk factor for the acquisition of HCV infection. Participants will attend a single visit to receive point-of-care HCV testing and complete a self-administered survey. Testing will be performed using point-of-care HCV antibody testing (results within 1-20 minutes, depending on the test) and if positive, HCV RNA testing will be performed. Participants who have previously had HCV infection or previously received HCV treatment will be tested using point-of-care HCV RNA testing. Participants will not receive treatment as a part of this study. Participants who are HCV RNA detectable will be linked to standard of care for any other clinical assessments and treatment initiation.

Conditions

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Hepatitis C

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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People at risk of HCV acquisition

This is an observational cohort study. Participants will be recruited from settings that provide services to people with a risk factor for the acquisition of HCV infection. Participants will attend a single visit to receive point-of-care HCV testing and complete a self-administered survey. Testing will be performed using point-of-care HCV antibody testing (results within 1-20 minutes, depending on the test) and if positive, HCV RNA testing will be performed. Participants who have previously had HCV infection or previously received HCV treatment will be tested using point-of-care HCV RNA testing. Participants will not receive treatment as a part of this study. Participants who are HCV RNA detectable will be linked to standard of care for any other clinical assessments and treatment initiation.

Point-of-Care Testing

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will be offered finger-stick point-of-care testing for HCV

Interventions

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Point-of-Care Testing

Participants will be offered finger-stick point-of-care testing for HCV

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Provided informed consent.
2. ≥ 18 years of age.
3. Have a risk factor for the acquisition of HCV infection (including current or past injecting drug use, previous incarceration, HIV infection, receiving blood products prior to 1990, having a tattoo or piercing in an unregulated environment, a needle-stick injury, or a mother with HCV).

OR:
4. Are attending a service caring for people with risk factors for the acquisition of HCV infection (e.g. drug treatment clinics, needle and syringe programs, prisons, mobile outreach services, community health services, mental health services, and homelessness services).

Exclusion Criteria

a. Is unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or abide by the requirements of the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Flinders University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kirby Institute

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Hepatitis ACT

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Western NSW LHD

Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Far West LHD

Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation

Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Galambila Aboriginal Health Service

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Central Coast LHD

Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Armajun Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Inverell, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Rekindling the Spirit Health Service

Lismore, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Nepean Blue Mountains LHD

Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

North and Mid North Coast LHD

Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation

Quirindi, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation

South Grafton, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Kirketon Road Centre

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

NSLHD

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

WSLHD Drug Health

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

South West Sydney LHD

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Hepatitis NSW

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

NSW Users and AIDS Association

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Prince of Wales Hospital

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

SESLHD Community and Mental Health POCT Allicance (SCAMPA)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

SESLHD Drug Health

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Storr Liver Clinic (Westmead Hospital)

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Sydney Local Health District

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Murrumbidgee & Southern LHD

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Hunter New England LHD

Waratah, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

ISLHD Drug and Alcohol Service

Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

ADSCA - Alice Springs Hospital

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Alcohol and Harm Reduction Biala

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Micah Projects

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Cairns Sexual Health Service

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Site Status SUSPENDED

Hepatitis QLD

Coorparoo, Queensland, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Kombi Clinic

Inala, Queensland, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Metro South Addiction Services - Inala ADS

Inala, Queensland, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Ipswich AODS

Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Ipswich Sexual Health and BBV Service, West Moreton Health

Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Site Status TERMINATED

OneBridge

Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

North Adelaide Local Health Network

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

South Adelaide Local Health Network

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Hepatitis SA

Hackney, South Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation

Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinic 60 (Sexual Health Services)

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Moreton Group Rural Health

New Town, Tasmania, Australia

Site Status TERMINATED

Western Health

Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Eastern Health

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne)

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Youth Projects - The Living Room

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Latrobe Community Health Service Liited

Morwell, Victoria, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Peer Based Harm Reduction Bunbury

Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

South Terrace Clinic - Fremantle Hospital

Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Peer Based Harm Reduction WA

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Hepatitis WA

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status RECRUITING

Next Step East Perth

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Next Step Fremantle

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Next Step Warwick

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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Australia

Central Contacts

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David C Silk, BSc

Role: CONTACT

+61293850900

Facility Contacts

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Sarah Ahmed

Role: primary

Katherine McQuillan

Role: primary

Kendall Jackman

Role: primary

Regan Chesterfield

Role: primary

Amanda Burfitt

Role: primary

Peter Silberberg

Role: primary

Julie Page

Role: primary

Alexandra Wade

Role: primary

Suruchi Amarasena

Role: primary

Marion Tait

Role: primary

Phillip Read

Role: primary

Mark Montebello

Role: primary

Thao Lam

Role: primary

Gilbert Whitton

Role: primary

Steven Drew

Role: primary

Charles Henderson

Role: primary

Marianne Martinello

Role: primary

Amany Zekry

Role: primary

Apo Demirkol

Role: primary

Jacob George

Role: primary

Shih-Chi Kao

Role: primary

Alison Nikitas

Role: primary

Melanie Kingsland

Role: primary

David Reid

Role: primary

Dan Wilson

Role: primary

Jeremy Hayllar

Role: primary

Kim Rayner

Role: primary

Rachael Bryett

Role: primary

Joss O'Loan

Role: primary

Holly McCormick

Role: primary

Lorraine Barber

Role: primary

Sonia Martin

Role: primary

Morgyn Warner

Role: primary

Victoria Cock

Role: primary

Damien Harding

Role: primary

Alan Wigg

Role: primary

Kerry Paterson

Role: primary

Megan Hughes

Role: primary

Thileepan Naren

Role: primary

Rohit Sawhney

Role: primary

Jacinta Holmes

Role: primary

Hayley Morgan

Role: primary

Michelle Francis

Role: primary

Leanne Myers

Role: primary

Joseph Cotter

Role: primary

Leanne Myers

Role: primary

Brent Bell

Role: primary

Shuan Tan

Role: primary

Michael Christmass

Role: primary

Wendy Lawrence

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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VHCRP2101

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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