Hepatitis C Virus Reflex Testing Protocol in an Emergency Department.

Introduction: Our aim was to measure hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and linkage-to-care rates in an urban emergency department (ED) before and after implementing an HCV viral RNA (vRNA) reflex testing protocol within a HCV screening program for at-risk patients. Our hypothesis was that using a reflex testing protocol would increase HCV testing rates of at-risk patients in the ED, which would increase the linkage-to-care rate.

Methods: In August 2018, our institution implemented an automated, electronic health record-based HCV screening protocol in the ED for at-risk patients.