NHS Grampian first to introduce routine HIV and Hepatitis testing

A&E patients in Aberdeen are to be the first in the country to be offered routine tests for HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

The new initiative, launched on Monday, will see all patients who have a blood test performed as part of their assessment at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Emergency Department tested for blood-borne viruses.

The tests will be carried out on people who already need a blood test, unless patients choose to opt out.

It follows a successful three-month pilot scheme, funded by the Scottish Government, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in February 2024.

‘Life-saving test’

NHS Grampian said that early detection of viruses like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV can be “lifesaving”, and when left untreated can lead to serious illness and death.

Dr Gareth Patton said that the test could have a “significant impact” for patients and the wider community by identifying those unknowingly living with BBVs.

“We found around one-in-180 patients tested had a previously undiagnosed BBV, and it allowed us to link that patient to specialist care – in many cases before they were showing any symptoms”, he said.

“Patients with BBV infections are often asymptomatic in the early stages, so there are people living with them who aren’t aware. The only way to find out if someone has a BBV is to carry out a test.

“Across the globe and locally, there is ongoing transmission of all three BBVs, often with cases of late diagnosis. Our initiative is part of a Scottish Government drive to eliminate Hepatitis C, end new transmissions of HIV and treat people living with Hepatitis B.”

The Scottish Government will continue to fund the initiative until the end of March 2027, when it will be reviewed.

The initiative will be rolled out across the Lothian and Glasgow areas by March.

“The project gives our staff an opportunity to make a positive impact by ensuring people are diagnosed and treated far sooner than they otherwise would have been, and it results in no additional time spent in our ED or increased waits for patients”, Dr Patton added.

“Early diagnosis reduces transmission and improves clinical outcomes for people.

“I am heartened that we have been able to expand funding to enable NHS Grampian to participate in this roll out following their successful pilot. This life-saving initiative will also be rolled out across the Lothian and Glasgow areas by March and will expand further if the evidence supports it.”

Hepatitis C can be treated and cured with a short course of tablets; effective treatment for HIV means patients can have undetectable viral loads and live a normal, healthy life span; and Hepatitis B can be treated to ensure the person affected can stay healthy.

Sexual health consultant, Daniela Brawley, said: “We have been working closely as a multi-speciality team – in Emergency Medicine, Laboratories, Sexual Health, Hepatology and Public Health – on this project.

“We are very excited to be the first board in Scotland to offer this service, out with a pilot setting.

“We found a higher prevalence than we thought we would, during the trial, and it will be interesting to monitor that in the longer term.

“As well as early diagnosis having a great benefit to individuals, treating BBVs early also has a public health benefit, in terms of reducing ongoing transmission, and a financial benefit to the NHS, as patients people diagnosed earlier are less unwell and require less treatment for complications of BBVs.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto said: “We have made a huge amount of progress towards eliminating HIV and viral hepatitis in Scotland, expanding testing further helps us towards that goal as well as ensuring people are diagnosed early.