Are the testing needs of key European populations affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C being addressed? A scoping review of testing studies in Europe.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether or not key populations affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C are being tested sufficiently for these diseases throughout the European region.


METHODS
We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies on HBV and HCV testing in the 53 Member States of the World Health Organization European Region following PRISMA criteria.


RESULTS
136 English-language studies from 24 countries published between January 2007 and June 2013 were found. Most studies took place in 6 countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. 37 studies (27%) addressed HBV, 46 (34%) HCV, and 53 (39%) both diseases. The largest categories of study populations were people who use drugs (18%) and health care patient populations (17%). Far fewer studies focused on migrants, prison inmates, or men who have sex with men.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall evidence base on HBV and HCV testing has considerable gaps in terms of the countries and populations represented and validity of testing uptake data. More research is needed throughout Europe to guide efforts to provide testing to certain key populations.
Jeffrey V Lazarus, CHIP, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Oster Allé 56, 5th floor, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark, jeffrey.lazarus@regionh.dk.
Jeffrey V
JV
Lazarus
Ida
I
Sperle
Alexander
A
Spina
Jürgen K
JK
Rockstroh
D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D014944:World Health Organization