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IAS 2019

FIND participation at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science includes a satellite session titled:

Lessons from HIV: realizing the potential of hepatitis C; self-testing, decentralization, and integration of testing services

During this session, FIND and partners from WHO, TAG, Coalition Plus, CHAI, Unitaid and others will explore how HCV testing services can be enhanced using currently available diagnostic tools, including those in the pipeline. It will focus on two key topics: decentralization and self-testing. Each topic will start with an overview of past experience and the current status of HIV testing, including use cases to highlight the challenges encountered and lessons learnt.  This will be followed by updates on current progress and major gaps in HCV testing and concluded by an expert panel discussion focusing on the most relevant HIV experiences and how similar approaches can be adopted by HCV programmes.

Date: 22 July 2019 – 07:00-08:30 AM
Venue: Palacio de Iturbide 3 (SR8), Mexico City, Mexico

Monday, 22 July – 7:00-8:30 AM
Time slot Topic Presenter
10 min Lessons from HIV: realizing the potential of hepatitis C; self-testing, decentralization, and integration of testing services Busisiwe Msimanga-Radebe (WHO)
10 min Challenges in the decentralization of HCV testing: key takeaways from FIND’s HEAD-Start project Jessica Markby (FIND)
30 min Panel discussion on HCV decentralization: To what extent does it follow the same path as HIV? Moderator: Anna Laura Ross (Unitaid)
 Lara Vojnov (WHO), Jessica Markby (FIND), Craig McClure (CHAI), Annette Gaudino (Treatment Action Group), Khalil Elouardighi (Coalition PLUS).
–To what extent does it follow the same path as HIV?
–Which settings needs to be prioritized?
–What services need to be prioritized to aid decentralization? (i.e. task shifting, further integration and etc.)
–What are the key tools to enable integration (polyvalent platforms, multiplex testing)
10 min HCV self-testing: similarities and differences with HIV self-testing; current evidence Elena Ivanova (FIND)
25 min Panel discussion: HCV self-testing (ST), a potential game changer? Moderator: Busisiwe Msimanga-Radebe (WHO)
 Cary James (WHA), Olga Denisuik (Alliance), Ernest Wisse (Médecins du Monde), Margaret Hellard (Burnet Institute), Mohammed Majam (Wits University), Elena Ivanova (FIND)
–What population(s) can benefit from HCV ST?
–What are the common challenges linked to ST and HCV-specific challenges?
–What learnings are transferrable from the HIV ST field and what additional evidence needs to be generated for HCV?
5 min Wrap up and closing remarks Elena Ivanova (FIND)
  • Oral abstract supplement WEAB0304: Evaluation of hepatitis C virus rapid diagnostic test in HCV mono- and HCV/HIV co-infected patients from low- and middle-income countries (more on pg 50 in JIAS (J Int AIDS Soc)
  • Conference website