{
  "abstract": "Introduction Opt-out blood borne virus (BBV) testing has rapidly expanded across the UK in recent years. We performed a retrospective evaluation of hepatitis B (HBV) cases diagnosed through opt-out BBV testing at North Bristol NHS Trust in the 12 months following its Introduction and compared this with cases referred via the standard referral pathway during this time. Our aims were to 1) Identify how many new cases of HBV opt-out testing identified, 2) Compare the demographics of the two groups and 3) Assess how many patients identified through opt-out testing went on to start antiviral treatment.Methods Positive hepatitis B (HBsAg) results from opt-out testing and new referrals made via the standard pathway between 1.10.24 and 30.9.25 were recorded by the pathway care navigator. Data collection for patient demographics (gender, age, deprivation decile and country of origin) as well as fibroscan, HBV DNA, ALT and outcome of first clinic appointment were collected by two authors. Where appropriate, standard statistical tests were used to compare groups.Results 34,300 HBV tests were performed via opt-out BBV testing (79.5% of eligible ED attendances), with 102 positive for HBsAg (0.236%); 58 (0.134%) of which were not previously known to local services. 18 new referrals were made via the standard referral pathway during this period.Patients diagnosed via opt-out testing showed a non-significant trend towards being older (mean age 47.3 years vs. 41.7 years, p=0.076) and male (41/58, 71% vs. 8/18, 44%, p = 0.052). Where country of origin was documented (N=53), 6/53 (11%) patients in the opt-out group were from the UK with the remaining 47 (89%) from elsewhere. There was no significant difference in the deprivation indices of the two groups (median deprivation decile of opt-out group: 4 vs. 5.5 for standard pathway, p = 0.727). A significantly higher proportion of patients diagnosed via opt-out testing were previously unaware they had HBV (41/53, 77% vs 7/18, 39%, p = 0.007).48/58 (82%) of the opt-out group were seen in at least one clinic appointment (7 DNA, 3 not offered an appointment). Following the initial clinic, 7/48 (15%) of the opt-out group commenced antiviral treatment compared to 7/18 (38%) in the standard referral group (see figure 1).Conclusions Our results show that opt-out BBV testing is significantly more likely to identify people who are previously unaware they have HBV than standard pathways although other demographics between the two groups were similar. 15% of patients identified through opt-out testing were immediately eligible for NA treatment and continuing to identify and treat these patients through opt-out BBV testing is likely to bring substantial long-term health and financial benefits.Abstract P88 Figure 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Morgan O’Flaherty"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "John Creamer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "Erika Angeletti"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom"
      ],
      "name": "James Maurice"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P88 A comparison of opt-out blood borne virus testing and standard referral pathways for Hepatitis B diagnosis and treatment",
  "uid": "5fd3adae-019e-5dcf-8e85-3bc562931d59"
}