Selected pharmacies offer hepatitis tests
Thursday 21st May 2009
Selected pharmacies across the country have begun offering on-demand dry-blood testing for hepatitis B and C.
The development is part of a scheme designed to increase diagnosis rates of the disease, which results in inflammation of the liver and is caused by a viral infection.
Both hepatitis B and C can be caught through unsterilised needles or contaminated blood products, while B can also be caught through unprotected sex.
The scheme, which is being led by Hepatitis C Trust in partnership with a number of NHS trusts, is being piloted in 19 pharmacies across the UK and will run for three months.
Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust, said: "Too many people are developing life-threatening liver disease because they are being diagnosed too late."
He added that increased screening which is free and easily available could help to save "countless lives".
Eventually, the trust wants to make pharmacy testing available to everyone.
Written by James Puckle
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