Hep C Testing Recommendations Developed for Perinatally Exposed Infants
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Nov. 2, 2023 -- Recommendations have been developed for hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing among perinatally exposed infants. The recommendations and report are published in the Nov. 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Noting that about 6 to 7 percent of perinatally exposed infants and children will acquire HCV infection and that many perinatally infected children are not tested or linked to care, Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, M.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues introduced four new recommendations for HCV screening of perinatally exposed infants and children.
The report issued four recommendations: All perinatally exposed infants should undergo HCV testing at age 2 to 6 months with a nucleic acid test (NAT) for HCV RNA detection; all infants and children with detectable HCV RNA should consult with health care providers with expertise in pediatric hepatitis C management; no further follow-up or testing is recommended for perinatally exposed infants and children with an undetectable HCV RNA result at or after age 2 months, unless clinically warranted; and NAT is recommended for perinatally exposed infants and children aged 7 to 17 months who have not been tested previously. For perinatally exposed children aged 18 months and older who have not been tested previously, hepatitis C virus antibody testing is recommended, followed by NAT for HCV RNA.
"Using a testing strategy of highly sensitive and specific NATs for RNA detection among infants and children perinatally exposed to HCV increases the identification of children with HCV infection in whom substantial morbidity and mortality might develop," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted November 2023
Read this next
Video Laryngoscopy Improves Intubation on First Attempt in Neonates
FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- Among neonates undergoing urgent endotracheal intubation, successful intubation on the first attempt occurs in more neonates undergoing video laryngoscopy...
Fetal Medicine Foundation Algorithm Can Predict Preeclampsia
WEDNESDAY, May 8, 2024 -- The first-trimester Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) screening test predicts 63.1 percent of preterm preeclampsia cases and 77.3 percent of early-onset...
Excess Gestational Weight Gain Common in Military Health Beneficiaries
TUESDAY, May 7, 2024 -- Military health beneficiaries, especially active-duty personnel, more often have excessive gestational weight gain (GWG), according to a study published in...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.