HIV/HCV Diagnostics Update: Opportunities to Strengthen HIV and/or HCV Testing and Linkage Programs

Health departments continue to seek and adopt strategies to expand access to testing for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection to improve the productivity and yield of testing and linkage programs, and to integrate HIV and HCV testing. During this webinar we will describe and discuss currently available laboratory-based and point-of-care HIV and HCV testing technologies. Emerging testing strategies, including use of point-of-care HCV RNA tests will also be discussed. We will also provide an overview of the factors that health departments should consider when selecting testing strategies in order to advance their program objectives and optimize public health resources. 

Presenters:

• Linda Styer, PhD, Director, Bloodborne Viruses Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health
• Colleen Flanigan, RN, MS, Director, Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health