title: Hepatitis C and B testing in English prisons is low but increasing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prisons are important settings for blood-borne virus control because of the high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral infections (HCV and HBV), and behaviours associated with transmission among prisoners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from sentinel laboratories in England were used to identify testing for hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen (HBc)] among male and female prisoners between 2005 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2005 and 2008, 10 723 prisoners from 39 prisons in England were tested for anti-HCV, anti-HBc and/or HBsAg. Overall, 24.2% prisoners tested positive for anti-HCV. Anti-HCV testing increased 47% over 4 years (P < 0.001), whilst the proportion testing positive decreased significantly from 26% in 2005 to 23% in 2008 (χ(2)= 10.0, df = 3, P = 0.030). In total, 13.9% people tested positive for anti-HBc. Of 5151 people tested for anti-HBc, 4433 were also tested for HBsAg; of these 2.4% were HBsAg positive. HBsAg testing increased 35% between 2005 and 2008, with no significant change in the proportion testing positive. Between 2005 and 2008, 2.4% (CI: 2.32-2.43%) of the prison population (24 prisons) were estimated to have been tested for anti-HCV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although hepatitis testing has increased, only a small proportion of the prison population were tested. More testing is required to identify infected prisoners and refer them for appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies