Do you know that London Medication presents accessible hepatitis C screening at choose areas in BC and Alberta?
9 in ten folks residing with viral hepatitis C (HCV) are unaware that they’ve the life-threatening an infection as a result of it will possibly take many years earlier than signs turn into evident. The Canadian Affiliation for the Research of the Liver pointers advocate testing for folks at elevated danger of an infection, in addition to one-time testing for all Canadians born between 1945 and 1975 attributable to inferior an infection prevention and management practices, and unscreened blood merchandise earlier than 1992.
Anybody can now be screened for hepatitis C with a easy finger prick check at choose London Medication areas all through BC and Alberta. The check, known as the OraQuick HCV Speedy Antibody Check, is greater than 99% correct at detecting HCV antibodies (to point out the historical past of publicity to the virus) inside 20 minutes. The price of the check in BC is $24.
In case of a constructive antibody end result, pharmacists will notify the affected person’s household doctor for a confirmatory blood check to find out the present infections standing, known as RNA viral load. Pharmacists additionally present schooling about accessible healing therapies and help sufferers by their therapy journey. Remedy sometimes entails day by day antiviral drugs for 8 to 12 weeks and may treatment over 95% of individuals with hepatitis C.
In Alberta, the scope of observe permits pharmacists to order and interpret blood work and prescribe treatment for persistent, non-complicated hepatitis C. Many London Medication pharmacists are presently collaborating in a analysis research in Alberta, known as LiveRx, offering this testing and linkage to care for free of charge.
Many London Medication pharmacists have acquired extra schooling to supply professional recommendation, enhance entry to testing and therapy for this doubtlessly liver-destroying virus, and cut back the stigma related to the blood-borne sickness. A whole record of areas the place you will discover our hepatitis C educated pharmacists could be discovered right here.