{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T10:20:38Z","timestamp":1771237238473,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]],"date-time":"2025-01-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1737072000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Institute for Public Health and the Environment"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Undetected chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Syrian migrants are the largest non-European migrant group in the Netherlands with HBV and HCV prevalence rates above 2%. This study aimed to reach Syrian migrants for HBV and HCV testing using point-of-care tests (POCT). A multifaceted strategy was employed to reach Syrian migrants aged \u226516 years from two Dutch municipalities for free-of-charge HBsAg and anti-HCV POCT using finger prick blood at the regional Public Health Service. All were personally invited by the Public Health Service by postal mail, based on municipal registry data. Respondents\u2019 medical history data were analysed descriptively and data on age, sex, and municipality were compared with non-participating invitees, using Pearson\u2019s Chi-square test. Of the study population (N = 832), 32.3% (n = 269) attended the testing. The mean age of participants was 36 years (range 16\u201370), 59.1% were men, and 66.5% were unemployed. Non-participation was higher in the younger age groups (&lt;30 years) (p &lt; .001). The POCT using finger prick blood was well received. None tested HBsAg or anti-HCV positive. With approximately one-third of participation, this study demonstrated relatively high reach of Syrian migrants for testing, compared to studies with similar recruitment methods. However, while the reach could be considered successful, testing failed to demonstrate new infection in this key population. Thereby, other methods may be preferred to identify new HBV and HCV infections, such as opportunistic testing within existing care processes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0316726","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]],"date-time":"2025-01-17T20:07:12Z","timestamp":1737144432000},"page":"e0316726","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Reaching Syrian migrants through Dutch municipal registries for hepatitis B and C point-of-care testing"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0727-092X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Chrissy P. B.","family":"Moonen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elfi E. H. G.","family":"Brouwers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1815-0974","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Christian J. P. A.","family":"Hoebe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4896-758X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Nicole H. T. M.","family":"Dukers-Muijrers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jamila","family":"Bouchaara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Inge H. M.","family":"van Loo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1476-4346","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Casper D. J.","family":"den Heijer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0316726.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"529","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2006.05.013","article-title":"The contributions of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide","volume":"45","author":"JF Perz","year":"2006","journal-title":"Journal of hepatology"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0316726.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1284","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.13371","article-title":"Disease burden of viral hepatitis A, B, C and E: A systematic analysis","volume":"27","author":"Z Liu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of viral hepatitis"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref003","article-title":"Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021: accountability for the global health sector strategies 2016\u20132021: actions for impact: web annex 2: data methods.","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2021"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref004","volume-title":"Towards ending viral hepatitis","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2016"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref005","volume-title":"Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. February 2017","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2017"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0316726.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2019.03.027","article-title":"Direct-acting antivirals after successful treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma improve survival in HCV-cirrhotic patients","volume":"71","author":"G Cabibbo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of hepatology"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref007","article-title":"Meer dan opsporen: Nationaal hepatitisplan: een strategie voor actie. Bilthoven: Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu; 2016 1","author":"R. David SH","year":"2016"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref008","article-title":"Hepatitis B en C in Nederland, jaaroverzicht 2018 2019 [Jaargang 2, Editie 1","author":"Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu","year":"2019"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268819000359","article-title":"Chronic hepatitis B and C infections in the Netherlands: estimated prevalence in risk groups and the general population.","author":"J Koopsen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Epidemiology & Infection."},{"issue":"10003","key":"pone.0316726.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1546","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(15)61412-X","article-title":"Estimations of worldwide prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a systematic review of data published between 1965 and 2013","volume":"386","author":"A Schweitzer","year":"2015","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref011","author":"CDA Foundation\u2019s Polaris Observatory","year":"2023","journal-title":"Global Distribution: hepatitis B and hepatitis C"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0316726.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0207037","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0207037","article-title":"Cost-effectiveness of screening for chronic hepatitis B and C among migrant populations in a low endemic country.","volume":"13","author":"AW Suijkerbuijk","year":"2018","journal-title":"PloS one."},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0316726.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.1038\/s41575-020-0332-6","article-title":"Progress towards elimination goals for viral hepatitis.","volume":"17","author":"AL Cox","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref014","first-page":"11","article-title":"A systematic review of barriers and facilitators for hepatitis B and C screening among migrants in the EU\/EEA region.","author":"CPB Moonen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Frontiers in Public Health."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"742722","DOI":"10.3389\/fviro.2021.742722","article-title":"Rapid diagnostics for hepatitis B and C viruses in low-and middle-income countries","volume":"1","author":"JA Shenge","year":"2021","journal-title":"Frontiers in Virology"},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0316726.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3403","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.25862","article-title":"Clinical performance of Determine HBsAg 2 rapid test for Hepatitis B detection","volume":"92","author":"A Avellon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Medical Virology"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0316726.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"497","DOI":"10.1080\/14737159.2022.2076595","article-title":"Clinical utility of the\u2019Determine HBsAg\u2019Point-of-Care Test for Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Africa.","volume":"22","author":"A Ceesay","year":"2022","journal-title":"Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref018","volume-title":"Determine HBsAg 2","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2023"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0316726.ref019","first-page":"2233","volume":"9","author":"Y Xiao","year":"2020","journal-title":"Point-of-care"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2018.02.016","article-title":"Performance of the OraQuick Hepatitis C virus antibody test in oral fluid and fingerstick blood before and after treatment-induced viral clearance","volume":"102","author":"C Pallar\u00e9s","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Virology"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0316726.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-157-8-201210160-00006","article-title":"Accuracy of rapid and point-of-care screening tests for hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"157","author":"S Shivkumar","year":"2012","journal-title":"Annals of internal medicine"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0316726.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"459","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmi.2016.01.009","article-title":"Prospective assessment of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus, a tool for improving access to care","volume":"22","author":"S Chevaliez","year":"2016","journal-title":"Clinical Microbiology and Infection"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0316726.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0121450","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0121450","article-title":"Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care tests for hepatitis C virus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"10","author":"MS Khuroo","year":"2015","journal-title":"PloS one"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0316726.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2010.02.018","article-title":"Evaluation of a rapid, point-of-care test device for the diagnosis of hepatitis C infection.","volume":"48","author":"SR Lee","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Clin Virol."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref025","first-page":"055","volume-title":"Product: OraQUick HCV Rapid Antibody Test Kit","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2017"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0316726.ref026","article-title":"A population-based screening for hepatitis C antibodies and active infection using a point-of-care test in a low prevalence area.","volume":"15","author":"Cubells ADc Carvalho-Gomes \u00c2Dc","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLOS ONE"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0316726.ref027","first-page":"242","article-title":"Strategies for the detection of hepatitis C viral infection in the general population.","volume":"214","author":"L Caballer\u00eda","year":"2014","journal-title":"Revista clinica espanola."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref028","article-title":"Is het schriftelijk oproepen van immigranten voor hepatitis B-onderzoek effectief?","author":"W Niessen","year":"2013","journal-title":"\/ IB 04\u20132013"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0316726.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2140","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268813003415","article-title":"Screening for chronic hepatitis B and C in migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the former Soviet Republics, and Vietnam in the Arnhem region, The Netherlands.","volume":"142","author":"C Richter","year":"2014","journal-title":"Epidemiology & Infection."},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0044611","article-title":"Seroprevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and prior immunity in immigrants and refugees: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","author":"C Rossi","year":"2012"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0316726.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.13770","article-title":"Prevalence of hepatitis B virus amongst refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review","volume":"30","author":"C Lee","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of viral hepatitis"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref032","first-page":"11","article-title":"Seroprevalence and trends of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus in Syrian blood donors at Damascus University Blood Center between 2004 and 2021.","author":"A Alassad","year":"2023","journal-title":"Frontiers in Public Health."},{"issue":"12","key":"pone.0316726.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1664","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2018.01.079","article-title":"Immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and hepatitis B among adult asylum seekers in the Netherlands, 2016","volume":"36","author":"GS Freidl","year":"2018","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0316726.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0235260","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0235260","article-title":"Good acceptability of HIV, HBV, and HCV screening during immigration medical check-up amongst migrants in France in the STRADA study.","volume":"15","author":"M Duracinsky","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS One."},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0316726.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1039","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-08749-8","article-title":"Migrants\u2019 and refugees\u2019 health status and healthcare in Europe: a scoping literature review.","volume":"20","author":"A Lebano","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0316726.ref036","volume-title":"Open forum infectious diseases;","author":"J Bottero","year":"2015"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0316726","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]],"date-time":"2025-01-17T20:07:30Z","timestamp":1737144450000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0316726"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Livia Melo","family":"Villar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0316726","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,17]]}}}