title: Preference, acceptability and implications of the rapid hepatitis C screening test among high-risk young people who inject drugs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People who inject drugs (PWID) are at highest risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, yet many remain unaware of their infection status. New anti-HCV rapid testing has high potential to impact this.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adult (<30 years) active PWID were offered either the rapid OraQuick® or standard anti-HCV test involving phlebotomy, then asked to complete a short questionnaire about testing perceptions and preferences. Sample characteristics, service utilization, and injection risk exposures are assessed with the HCV testing choice as the outcome, testing preferences, and reasons for preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 129 participants: 82.9% (n = 107) chose the rapid test. There were no significant differences between those who chose rapid vs. standard testing. A majority (60.2%) chose the rapid test for quick results; most (60.9%) felt the rapid test was accurate, and less painful (53.3%) than the tests involving venipuncture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OraQuick® anti-HCV rapid test was widely accepted among young PWID. Our results substantiate the valuable potential of anti-HCV rapid testing for HCV screening in this high risk population.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Hayes
authors: Alya
authors: A
authors: Briceno
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Asher
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Yu
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Evans
authors: Judith A
authors: JA
authors: Hahn
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Global Health Science, University of California San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. KPage@psg.ucsf.edu.
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Page
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult