Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination is a critical global health objective, yet the US is falling short of the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination targets. The White House recently proposed an HCV elimination plan that includes point-of-care (POC) HCV RNA testing, which is widely used in other countries but not yet approved in the US POC HCV RNA testing is essential for community-based testing, test-and-treat programs, assessing cure, and monitoring for reinfection.

This review examines the current status of POC HCV RNA testing in the US and identifies the necessary factors for its successful implementation. It highlights specific public health and policy recommendations that would enable the adoption of POC HCV RNA testing to bolster HCV elimination efforts. Implementing these recommendations could significantly advance the US toward meeting global HCV elimination goals.

Reference: Kapadia SN, Jordan AE, Eckhardt BJ, et al. The Urgent Need to Implement Point-of-Care RNA Testing for Hepatitis C Virus to Support Elimination. Clin Infect Dis. 2024 May 15;78(5):1235-1239. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad503. PMID: 37633653; PMCID: PMC11093654.