The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the acceptability and usability of different Hepatitis-CVirus Self Testing service delivery models to reach those who are at a risk for HCV and can benefit from convenient HCV testing options. Either blood-based or oral-based kits will be available based on your location.
The HCVST study will be conducted by SPYM and PATH, along with other partnersтАФSolidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHII), Shalom, King George Medical College, Sanjay Gandhi Medical College, Zoram Medical College and Injecting Drug Users Forum (IDUF). This study will be done ONLY in the following districts of Mizoram and Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Allahabad and Kanpur
Mizoram: Aizawl, Champai and Lunglei
Participants who enrol in this study will be provided with an HCV self-test kit free of charge. You can order the HCV self-test kit to either be delivered to a desired location or to pick it up from one of the study sites.You have the option of accessing either the oral-based or the blood-based based on your location.It will take around 45-60 minutes to participate in the HCV self-testing. You will have information on your HCV status within 1 hour. We will follow-up with youby phoneto find out the test result if you wish to share it. A positive HCV self-test result will need to be confirmed at a National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) governmenthealth facility near to you. You will be supported by the study team during this process.At the government health facility, you will be asked to perform a NVHCP approved HCV screening test and a confirmatory HCV test based on the result of the NVHCP HCV screening test. All information collected during the study including your personal identifiers and phone number will be kept confidential with access limited to study team only. The personal identifiers will be used by the study team to ensure follow-up of confirmatory testing and treatment initiation on completion and later all the personal identifiers will be delinked and destroyed.
If you are interested in participating in this study, you will first have to check your eligibility for the study. If eligible, you will go through an OTP verification process after which you will be asked to electronically sign an informed consent form which confirms your voluntary consent to participate in the study.