Patients at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Emergency Department will be the first in Scotland to be offered a test for blood borne viruses, including HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

The launch of the initiative will see A&E patients who receive a blood test as part of their care also be tested for blood borne viruses (BBV) as standard practice, unless they opt out.

The life-saving programme will be rolled out across Lothian and Glasgow by March, and to other areas if evidence supports it, according to the Public Health Minister.

A pilot in NHS Grampian last year found around one-in-180 patients tested had a previously undiagnosed virus – more than the team expected.

Early detection allowed them to be linked to specialist care, in many cases before they showed any symptoms.

Consultant in emergency medicine at NHS Grampian, Gareth Patton, said the test could have a significant impact for patients and the wider community, all without impacting on A&E waiting times:

“Patients with BBV infections are often asymptomatic in the early stages, so there are people living with them who aren’t aware. The only way to find out if someone has a BBV is to carry out a test. 

“Across the globe and locally, there is ongoing transmission of all three BBVs, often with cases of late diagnosis.

“Our initiative is part of a Scottish government drive to eliminate Hepatitis C, end new transmissions of HIV and treat people living with Hepatitis B.

“The project gives our staff an opportunity to make a positive impact by ensuring people are diagnosed and treated far sooner than they otherwise would have been, and it results in no additional time spent in our emergency department or increased waits for patients.”

Hepatitis C can be treated and cured with a short course of tablets; effective treatment for HIV means people can have an undetectable viral load and live a healthy life span; and Hepatitis B can be treated to ensure the person affected can stay healthy. 

However, if left undiagnosed and untreated, blood borne viruses can lead to serious illness and in some cases death.

Sexual health consultant, Daniela Brawley, said teams across emergency medicine, sexual health, public health and laboratories have been working together on the project:  

“We are very excited to be the first board in Scotland to offer this service, outwith a pilot setting.

“We found a higher prevalence than we thought we would, during the trial, and it will be interesting to monitor that in the longer term.

“As well as early diagnosis having a great benefit to individuals, treating BBVs early also has a public health benefit, in terms of reducing ongoing transmission, and a financial benefit to the NHS, as patients people diagnosed earlier are less unwell and require less treatment for complications of BBVs.”

The Scottish government awarded NHS Lothian, Grampian and Highland £145,000 in the last financial year to support emergency department BBV testing pilots.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto MSP said she is “heartened” the government has expanded funding to roll out the service in NHS Grampian:

“We have made a huge amount of progress towards eliminating HIV and viral hepatitis in Scotland, expanding testing further helps us towards that goal as well as ensuring people are diagnosed early.

“Early diagnosis reduces transmission and improves clinical outcomes for people.

“This life saving initiative will also be rolled out across the Lothian and Glasgow areas by March and will expand further if the evidence supports it.”

Read more: “Game-changer” Hep C treatment blueprint launched; High hopes for Glasgow ‘origami’ Hep C test

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