Testing for HIV and hepatitis C in Manchester hospital emergency departments

Picture of 3 Manchester Hospitals

Testing for HIV and hepatitis C in Manchester hospital emergency departments

 

What HIV and hepatitis C testing is taking place and where?

Three emergency departments in Greater Manchester will routinely test people aged 16+ for HIV and hepatitis C when doing blood tests unless they decide not to.  This is now taking place at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.

What is HIV and hepatitis C?

HIV and hepatitis C are viruses carried in the blood.

Many people with these viruses have no symptoms and are unaware of carrying them.  Knowing you have (or do not have) HIV or hepatitis C means that you can protect yourself and others.

What does it mean to be routinely tested?

Routine testing means that, if your blood is taken, you will be tested as part of this process, for HIV and hepatitis C - unless you say that you do not want this to happen.  Patients visiting emergency departments will be told about this through posters and leaflets in waiting areas and should ask a member of staff for more information should they need it.

Why are HIV and hepatitis C being tested for routinely?

Routine testing for HIV and hepatitis C within emergency departments means that more people will get tested, helping those who need it into treatment and care as early as possible.  More than two in five (42%) of people diagnosed with HIV in England are diagnosed at a late stage – this can have serious consequences for their own health and the health of others through unknowingly passing on the virus.

Routine HIV testing is supported by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the British HIV Association.  It is also now standard practice in antenatal services, where the reduction in HIV transmission to babies has reduced to almost zero.

Why are these conditions being screened for and not others? 

Both HIV and hepatitis C are conditions that are easily identified through blood tests. People can be living with both viruses for a long time before symptoms show, meaning that people are often not aware they are living with them.  Both viruses can be treated once diagnosed but without the right care, can become life threatening.

Will everyone who goes to A&E have these tests?

Not everyone.  Routine HIV and hepatitis C testing is for any adult aged 16 and over, who is already having a blood test as part of the reason they are attending the emergency department.

If you are not having a blood test within the emergency department but would like to be tested for HIV or hepatitis C, there will be information in the waiting area about how to arrange a test through your local sexual health or GP services.  In addition, all residents in Greater Manchester can order a home sampling HIV test at Freetesting HIV | Free HIV Kits for Self-testing at Home.

Does routine HIV testing happen when I have my bloods taken elsewhere, for example at a GP practice?

No.  At this time routine HIV and hepatitis C testing will only be available in the emergency departments of Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe Hospital, and North Manchester General Hospital when a blood test is already required

Will I be asked if I want my blood checked for HIV and hepatitis C?  

You may not be directly asked about HIV or hepatitis C testing.  There will be posters and leaflets in each emergency department to let people know that their blood will be checked for HIV and hepatitis C unless they ask not to be.  The posters will provide details about how let staff know that a test is not wanted at this time, along with information about how to prevent HIV and hepatitis C infection, and where to get support if needed.  The information will be available in several commonly spoken languages.

What happens if I choose to ‘opt-out’?

If you choose not to have the test, your emergency care won't be affected.

However, we want to identify all cases of HIV and hepatitis C so that we can get people on the treatment that will enable them to live well.  HIV medication will reduce the risk of passing HIV to anyone else.  Hepatitis C treatment will cure the condition.  By having this test, you're not only looking after your own health, but you’re also looking after the health of others.

How will I be given the results? 

If you have a reactive result (provisional positive), you will be contacted to arrange an appointment and discuss the next steps.

If you do not hear from anyone within 28 days, you can assume that your HIV and hepatitis C test was negative.  However, please note that there is a possibility that your blood sample was not sent to the laboratory and that for this reason it could not be tested.

You can now use the MyMFT app to check all your results.  HIV and hepatitis C results should be visible on the MyMFT app within 28 days from sample collection.

If you think you had a test but can’t see a result on the MyMFT app, it is possible that your blood sample was not sent to the laboratory.

You can use the contacts below to access another test:

What happens if I get a positive test result?

Your results are confidential. Only the staff involved in your care will know your diagnosis. You will be contacted by a member of staff from the hepatitis C or HIV hospital team and offered a clinic appointment. When you are seen in the clinic, the team will provide further assessment and information, and discuss your treatment (which will be free on the NHS).

Ongoing support for people living with HIV is available through George House Trust.

For hepatitis C, people diagnosed will be offered a short course of curative treatment and an assessment for liver damage.  Ongoing support for people diagnosed with hepatitis C is available through The Hepatitis C Trust.

Can HIV and hepatitis C be tested for without a blood test?

There are different types of tests available but the best way to test for both conditions is a blood test.  If you don’t need a blood test for the reason you are seeking emergency care, you will be given details of your local sexual health, GP or self-testing services.

What is the window period for HIV and Hepatitis C showing up on your blood tests?

It can take 6-12 weeks for HIV and up to 6 months for hepatitis C to be detectable on a blood test after you have been infected.

If you think you have been at recent risk of infection, you can get another test through your GP or local sexual health service.