title: An anonymous unlinked sero-prevalence survey of HIVHCV in an urban Emergency Department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2002, the sero-prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) in the Emergency Department (ED), University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey was 10.4%. Both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are transmitted by injection drug use (IDU) or sexual contact. However, the degree of concurrent positive HCV antibody status in HIV-infected ED patients is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study we determined the sero-prevalence of HIV and HIVHCV in HIV-positive patients in the ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study using an anonymous sero-prevalence survey was conducted from 7/1/2008 to 8/23/2008. Medical records were reviewed and de-identified; remnant blood specimens were also de-identified and tested for HIV antibody, and if positive, HCV antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3488 specimens, 225 (6.5%, 95% CI: 5.7-7.3%) were positive for HIV antibody. Seventy-four patients 74/225 (32.9%, 95% CI: 33.8-46.5%) were unaware of their sero-positivity. Forty percent of HIV positive patients (90/225, 95% CI: 33.8-46.5%) were HCV antibody positive. The highest seroprevalence of HIVHCV antibody was among older patients (≥ 45 years), and patients with positive urine toxicology and elevated liver function tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the high prevalence of HIV and HIVHCV antibody in the ED, routine testing is important for patients ≥ 45 years with positive urine toxicology and elevated liver function tests.
authors.affiliation: St Michael's Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, 111 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ 07101, United States; UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Medicine, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, United States. Electronic address: mohammdy@umdnj.edu.
authors.forename: Debbie Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: UMDNJ, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 1 World's Fair Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873, United States.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, 50 East State Street, P.O. Box 363, Trenton, NJ 08625, United States.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadashige
authors.affiliation: UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Medicine, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, United States.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaker
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services, 50 East State Street, P.O. Box 363, Trenton, NJ 08625, United States.
authors.forename: Sindy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
keywords: AIDS; ALT; AST; AUS; Anonymous unlinked sero-survey; CI; Confidence Interval; ED; ELISA; Emergency Department; Emergency department; Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay; HCV; HIV; HIVHCV; IDU; LFT; NIDU; NJ; New Jersey; Prevalence HIVHCV antibody; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; alanine aminotransferase; anonymous unlinked sero-survey; aspartate aminotransferase; hepatitis C virus; human immunodeficiency virus-1; human immunodeficiency virus–hepatitis C virus; injection drug use; liver function tests; non-IDU