Same-visit Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment (The QuickStart Study)

Same-visit Hepatitis C Testing and Treatment to Accelerate Cure Among People Who Inject Drugs: a Cluster Randomised Control Trial (The QuickStart Study)

The QuickStart study aims to assess the impact of three models of HCV care on HCV treatment uptake and cure among people who inject drugs. Rapid point-of-care (POC) HCV testing and test-and-treat strategies will be utilised in primary health care settings across Australia.

The QuickStart Study will explore models of point-of-care HCV testing and a same-day test and treat model to determine the impact of these models on HCV treatment initiation and cure. The study is a cluster cross-over randomised controlled trial. Sites are primary care services in Australia who provide services to people who inject drugs (PWID) and who routinely prescribe treatment for hepatitis C. Clinical services with a primary care practitioner and/or nurse experienced in providing DAA treatment to high numbers of PWID will be recruited to the study. A total of 30 services will be recruited with each service enrolling approximately 60 participants across an intervention and control period. Key participant eligibility include a history of injecting drug use and no previous treatment for HCV with direct acting antivirals.

Each site will participate in a control comparison period in addition to one of three interventions. The three interventions involve:

A) A rapid HCV antibody test using a fingerprick sample and for anybody subsequently diagnosed with hepatitis C, management and treatment will be according to standard of care.

B) A rapid HCV antibody test followed by a POC HCV RNA test for those who return a reactive antibody result. Both these will use a fingerprick sample and for anybody diagnosed with hepatitis C, management and treatment will be according to standard of care.

C) A rapid HCV antibody test using a fingerprick sample and for participants who return a reactive result, an initial starter pack of DAA prior to a confirmed HCV RNA diagnosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• current or former PWID (i.e., injected drugs at least once)
• aged 18 years or over
• attending a participating PHC for any reason
• no previous treatment with DAAs for HCV
• failed interferon based treatment for HCV in the past (i.e., did not achieve cure)
• Medicare eligible
• able to speak and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• women known to be currently pregnant or who are breastfeeding
• individuals self-reporting to be currently engaged in treatment for HCV
• unable to provide informed consent
• tested for HCV in the past 3 months