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Abstract Details
Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Adults
John M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science.
Source
Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Clinicians [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2007-.
AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews.
2013 Sep 13.
Excerpt
In response to a request from the public, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provided support to the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center to perform a systematic review to evaluate the evidence about the effects of screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on clinical outcomes in asymptomatic adults without known liver enzyme abnormalities, including pregnant women. In addition, the authors of the review evaluated the relative effectiveness of various screening strategies for HCV infection and the potential harms of screening. The authors of this review did not address screening for HCV infection in children, patients with occupational exposure, and post-transplant, HIV-infected, and hemodialysis patients. The systematic review included 162 reports of eligible studies published from 1947 through May 2012. An online version of this summary provides links directly to the sections of the full report with references for individual findings, inclusion criteria for the studies, and an explanation of the methods for rating the studies and determining the strength of evidence for individual findings. The online version of this summary and the full report are available at www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/hepatitis-c-screening.cfm. This summary is provided to inform discussions with patients of options and to assist in decisionmaking along with consideration of a patient’s values and preferences. However, reviews of evidence should not be construed to represent clinical recommendations or guidelines.