{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T06:41:55Z","timestamp":1792219315118,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792108800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1792108800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100009287","name":"NSW Health","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100009287","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Liver International"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background and Aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To achieve hepatitis C (HCV) elimination by 2030, testing and treatment must reach people most at risk. Dried blood spot (DBS) testing offers an alternative to venepuncture, suitable for community and prison settings. This study evaluated HCV infection prevalence and treatment initiation among people receiving DBS testing in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The NSW DBS Pilot was an observational study of people testing for HCV RNA from DBS samples collected across 36 community sites (including drug treatment clinics and needle and syringe programmes) and 21 prisons. Logistic regression identified factors associated with current HCV infection (detectable HCV RNA) and treatment initiation within 6\u2009months.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Between September 2019 and December 2023, 13\u2009940 participants were tested for HCV (25% female, 33% Aboriginal and\/or Torres Strait Islander, 36% injected drugs in the last month). Overall, 11% (1310\/13940) had current infection, higher in community (12%) than prison (9%), and declining from 14% in 2019\u20132021 to 9% in 2022\u20132023. Among those with current infection, treatment initiation within 6\u2009months was higher in prison settings (64%) compared to community (37%). In community settings, Aboriginal and\/or Torres Strait Islander people had lower odds of treatment initiation (aOR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51\u20130.92). In prison, treatment declined in 2022\u20132023 compared with 2019\u20132021 (aOR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43\u20130.94).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The NSW DBS Pilot provided broad access to HCV testing, but treatment initiation remained suboptimal, particularly in community settings. Declining prevalence indicates progress towards elimination; however, further efforts are needed to close remaining gaps along the care cascade.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/liv.70937","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T06:06:53Z","timestamp":1792217213000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence of Hepatitis C Infection and Treatment Initiation Following Dried Blood Spot Testing in New South Wales, Australia"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"46","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0524-7064","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Annabelle","family":"Stevens","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"},{"name":"NSW Health  St Leonards New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Conway","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nigel","family":"Carrington","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sydney Sexual Health Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District NSW Health  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Evan B.","family":"Cunningham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7476-7894","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alison D.","family":"Marshall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Social Research in Health University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2161-9366","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janaki","family":"Amin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"},{"name":"NSW Health  St Leonards New South Wales Australia"},{"name":"Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Macquarie University  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5422-3777","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Phillip","family":"Read","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"},{"name":"Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District NSW Health  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6674-4593","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tracey","family":"Brown","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network NSW Health  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0402-0506","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rick","family":"Varma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sydney Sexual Health Centre, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District NSW Health  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bianca","family":"Prain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NSW Health  St Leonards New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2613-6910","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philip","family":"Cunningham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NSW State Reference Laboratory for HIV St Vincent's Hospital  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4741-2622","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gregory J.","family":"Dore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1833-2017","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jason","family":"Grebely","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales  Sydney New South Wales Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization \u201cGlobal Hepatitis Report \u201d(2017)."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0140\u20106736(23)01320\u2010x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.13278"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0207226"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2025.104720"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2024.104477"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14737159.2023.2292645"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciaf367"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913\u2010022\u201008763\u2010z"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14737159.2017.1400385"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889\u2010022\u201013525\u2010x"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiac049"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879\u2010024\u201008989\u20108"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ofid\/ofad517"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/flgastro\u20102016\u2010100776"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/flgastro\u20102013\u2010100308"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2014.09.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2020.102734"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598\u2010018\u201020312\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/infdis\/jiaa442"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcvp.2022.100093"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2019.01.010"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciaa571"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2022.103876"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2023.104279"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.13864"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_28_1","unstructured":"Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme \u201cGeneral Statement for Drugs for the Treatment of Hepatitis C \u201dhttps:\/\/www.pbs.gov.au\/info\/healthpro\/explanatory\u2010notes\/general\u2010statement\u2010hep\u2010c.%20Published%2021%20April%202021."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_29_1","unstructured":"S.HeardandL.Maher \u201cAustralian Needle Syringe Program Survey National Data Report 2019\u20132023: Prevalence of HIV HCV and Injecting and Sexual Behaviour Among NSP Attendees \u201d(2024)."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2022.103706"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/add.14393"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.034"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2019.11.012"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2022.09.011"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2019.02.013"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2017.07.002"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2015.05.001"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2023.04.019"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_39_1","unstructured":"J.King J.Kwon H.McManus R.Gray andS.McGregor \u201cHIV Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmissible Infections in Australia: Annual Surveillance Report 2024 \u201d(2024)."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2019.107705"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20054415"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12954\u2010023\u201000889\u20105"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2024.104335"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468\u20101253(21)00471\u20104"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2022.103917"}],"container-title":["Liver International"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/liv.70937","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1111\/liv.70937","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1111\/liv.70937","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,17]],"date-time":"2026-10-17T06:06:54Z","timestamp":1792217214000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/liv.70937"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,11]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1111\/liv.70937"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/liv.70937","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1478-3223","1478-3231"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1478-3223","type":"print"},{"value":"1478-3231","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2026-07-03","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-10-07","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-10-16","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70937"}}