Emergency Department

Many people are living with an undiagnosed Blood Borne Virus (BBV). To ensure these infections are picked up as early as possible, all patients attending our adult Emergency Department, aged 16 and over, will now be tested for Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs). These are hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Hepatitis B and C are viruses that affect the liver and HIV affects the immune system.

Hepatitis B and HIV can be managed with medication helping to prevent health complications that can develop as a result of uncontrolled chronic (long-term) infection. Hepatitis C is now curable.

Medication for all of these conditions helps to prevent their spread.

Consent

Testing for BBVs in our Emergency Department will occur on an ‘opt-out’ basis. This means if you have a blood sample taken as part of your care, we will automatically test for BBVs.

This is to help us detect as many undiagnosed people as possible. If you do not want your blood to be tested, please refer to the section ‘What if I do not want to be tested?’ in the FAQs. If you are not required to have a blood test during your visit, you will not be tested for BBVs.

Why am I being tested?

Many people who have an undiagnosed blood-borne virus infection do not realise they are infected. They can feel completely well for many years before developing symptoms and may never have had the opportunity to get tested. 

All three infections, once known about, can be effectively controlled or cured. Getting people on to treatment also helps to prevent transmission of these viruses to other people.

Why is this testing being done now in Emergency Departments?

The UK Government has set a goal of ending new infections with HIV or hepatitis C in England by 2030. In support of this goal, a pilot scheme of opt-out testing for blood-borne viruses began in some Emergency Departments in April 2022.

This has been very successful, identifying thousands of people around the country with infections that may not been diagnosed otherwise, giving them the chance to access effective treatment and care from the NHS.

To build on this success, the scheme is now being rolled out to more Emergency Departments around the country, including at UHCW. If you are not having a blood test in the Emergency Department, you will not be offered these tests at this time.

What if I do not want to be tested?

Please tell the person taking your bloods before your blood sample has been taken if you do not want to be tested.

If you decide not to get tested for any reason, this will not affect the care you receive from us in any way.

I didn’t receive a test, but I would like to be tested

Not everybody who attends the emergency department will receive a test.

If you do not receive a test but would like to request one for yourself or a family member, please contact your GP and ask for a Blood Borne Virus test.

Alternatively, you can order a home test kit.

• Order a self-test kit for Hepatitis C
• Order a self-test kit for HIV

Will I get my result if the test is negative?

No. The vast majority of tests we do will be negative, and it is not necessary for us to contact every person who has had a negative test.

What if I think I may have been exposed to one of these viruses very recently?

Tests for these viruses can be negative if done too early in an infection. If you think that you may have been at risk within the two months before attending the Emergency Department, please contact your GP or local sexual health clinic for further advice about when to get re-tested.

What happens if any of my HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C tests are positive?

If any of your tests are positive, a member of the appropriate specialist team will contact you to explain the result and to arrange next steps with you. When you book in to the ED, please make sure your contact details are up to date so we can get in touch if we need to.

If your HIV test is positive, this will need to be confirmed with a second test. This is because sometimes an HIV test that is only weakly positive does not mean that the person truly has HIV.

If your hepatitis B or C result is positive it means that you have antibodies to one or both of these viruses. Many people carry antibodies to these viruses even if they don’t have a current infection, so a positive test in the ED needs further assessment by a specialist.

If there was a problem with the blood sample and we were unable to test it, we will call or write to you to discuss further.

What is HIV and how is it treated?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that is spread through sex and blood. It damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.

Although there is currently no cure for HIV, there are very effective treatments, usually taken as daily tablets, which mean most people with the virus can live long and healthy lives. People who are diagnosed early generally respond to treatment better than those who are diagnosed late. As well as controlling the virus and keeping people healthy, HIV treatment also stops the virus being passed on to sexual partners or to children during pregnancy.

What is hepatitis B and how is it treated?

Hepatitis B is a virus that is spread through sex, blood and bodily fluids. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, or between children in early childhood. It infects the liver and if left untreated it can result in scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). This can lead to liver failure or liver cancer.

There is currently no cure for hepatitis B but there are very effective drug treatments that stop liver damage, allowing people to live long and healthy lives.

What is hepatitis C and how is it treated?

Hepatitis C is a virus that is spread through blood. It infects the liver and, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.

Hepatitis C can be cured. Treatment is with tablets that are taken daily for eight or 12 weeks. The tablets have very few side-effects and more than 95 out of every 100 people with hepatitis C will be cured with their first course of treatment.

How much does treatment for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C cost?

The treatments for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all free and available on the NHS.

Does having a HIV test affect my ability on getting life insurance or a mortgage?

No. Having a negative HIV test has no effect on getting life insurance or a mortgage. Even in the case of a positive result you should not have difficulty getting personal medical insurance, loans or mortgages. Insurance companies have understood for many years that HIV is a long-term health condition and that people do very well on treatment, with normal life expectancies.

Where can I find further support and advice outside of the hospital?

There are several charities with helplines that provide further support to patients and to patient’s friends, relatives and carers.

The British Liver Trust

If you or someone you know has been affected by liver disease, including hepatitis B, and you want to talk to someone about it, please get in touch.

Telephone: 0800 652 7330

Online form: Contact Us - British Liver Trust

The Hepatitis C Trust

If you or someone you know has been affected by hepatitis C and you want to talk to someone about it, please get in touch.

Telephone: 020 7089 6221

Email: helpline@hepctrust.org.uk

Website: The Hepatitis C Trust | Hep C charity (hepctrust.org.uk)

The Terrance Higgins Trust

If you or someone you know has been affected by HIV and you want to talk to someone about it, please get in touch.

Telephone: 0808 802 1221

Email: info@tht.org.uk

Website: Home | Terrence Higgins Trust (tht.org.uk