Hepatitis C (HCV) 

Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease caused by the HCV virus, which stands for Hepatitis C virus. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), most deaths from hepatitis are attributable to HCV, despite the existence of new antiviral drugs that can cure the disease.  

 

The key problem is to identify the infection as early as possible, since it is often diagnosed when already at an advanced stage.  

This is primarily down to the fact that the virus does not always cause symptoms, making the disease invisible and causing minor damage, which, however, eventually leads to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Early detection of the infection is therefore essential for treatment and recovery.   

HCV screening

HCV screening is recommended for three different population groups: 
General population

People born between 1969 and 1989, including temporary foreign residents (STP) 

People in prison
Prison inmates, regardless of nationality and year of birth 
People receiving care from drug dependence services (SerD)
People registered with the addiction treatment centres (SerD), regardless of nationality and year of birth 

Joining the programme 

SerD addiction treatment centre patients, rehab centre residents and persons who are incarcerated can join the screening programme at the relevant facility, either upon arrival, every six months or after engaging in at-risk behaviour. 

 

People born between 1 January 1969 and 31 December 1989 will receive a phone call, text message or email from their local health authority (ASL) or a notification on the IO app. They should download the invitation letter from the dedicated service and go to a participating pharmacy or public testing facility. Local health authorities may also set up additional HCV screening points. 

 

In any case, members of screening target groups can go to an HCV screening point even without an invitation letter. However, it is recommended to download the necessary documents, including the informed consent form and the privacy policy, which must be completed, signed and handed in to facilitate the screening process. 

 

Participation is voluntary, free of charge and does not require a medical prescription. 

Which test to take

In pharmacies, screening consists of a rapid fingerstick (capillary) test or a saliva test. 
At public testing centres, tests are performed by taking a blood sample. If you are scheduled for other blood tests, you can ask to add the HCV test free of charge. 
If you have blood tests scheduled for other prescriptions, you can request to add the HCV test free of charge.

Why it is important to participate 

Hepatitis C is an insidious viral infection. The virus does not always cause symptoms, making the disease invisible and causing small amounts of damage to liver cells, which over time can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Early detection of the infection is therefore essential for treatment and recovery. 

The available treatment is free, easy to take, safe and extremely effective. In fact, about 95% of people treated are completely cured. 

Communicating the results 

SerD addiction treatment centre patients, rehab centre residents and persons who are incarcerated can join the screening programme at the relevant facility, either upon arrival, every six months or after engaging in at-risk behaviour. 

 

People born between 1 January 1969 and 31 December 1989 will receive a phone call, text message or email from their local health authority (ASL) or a notification on the IO app. They should download the invitation letter from the dedicated service and go to a participating pharmacy or public testing facility. Local health authorities may also set up additional HCV screening points. 

 

In any case, members of screening target groups can go to an HCV screening point even without an invitation letter. However, it is recommended to download the necessary documents, including the informed consent form and the privacy policy, which must be completed, signed and handed in to facilitate the screening process. 

 

Participation is voluntary, free of charge and does not require a medical prescription. 

Negative
If the result is negative, the screening process ends there. 
Positive
If the result is positive, the person is informed by the HCV screening point and contacted by the specialist centre for confirmation testing and possible referral.  

If the screening test is positive, the person is informed by the healthcare professional at the test centre and contacted by the specialist centre to conduct a confirmatory test and, if necessary, to register the case and define the treatment plan. 

 

HCV infections are treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), which have radically improved treatment of this disease. These drugs are highly effective, with cure rates exceeding 95%. They act directly on the hepatitis C virus, specifically inhibiting viral enzymes that are needed for virus replication. They are prescribed in combination for a treatment period that varies depending on the genotype of the virus and the individual characteristics of the patient. 

 

DAAs are generally well tolerated and have few side effects. The most common include fatigue, headaches and mild gastrointestinal disorders. Patients are advised to report unwanted symptoms or drug interactions with other medications to their doctor. 

 

Most treatments typically last between 8 and 12 weeks. In some cases, a longer period of 24 weeks may be required. At the end of treatment, the viral load in the blood is monitored until recovery is confirmed. 

You can't see it. But you can find it early

Puglia Region offers free hepatitis C (HCV) screening for people born between 1969 and 1989.

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