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Table INF-2. Prevalence of HCV antibody among injecting drug users in the EU countries, Croatia, Turkey and Norway, 2010 or most recent year available - Summary table by country

Country or region% Infected (1)
YearNumber testedNational samplesSub-national samplesStudy design (2) Setting/comments (2) (3) (4) (5)References
Belgium2010327:28.1-80.0DTDTC; serum22 ; 27 ; 99 ; 28
Bulgaria20101249:62.3DTDTC, NSP, LTS; serum7a ; 7b ; 7c
Czech Republic201089613.6:DTNSP; saliva, capillary blood27 ; 32
Denmark200822352.5:SP (UAT)ODD; post mortem blood7
Germany:::::::
Estonia:::::::
Ireland:::::::
Greece2010191548.7-68.830.7-74.6DT ; SPDTC, LTS, OHC, PHL,STR, PRI, OTH; serum1 ; 2 ; 9 ; 18 ; 19
Spain:::::::
France2006362:41.7SP (UAT)NSP, LTS, STR; saliva21
Italy20097177758.536.8 - 80.7DTDTC, 533 sites; serum; IDUnk47 ; 48a ; 48b
Cyprus201011751.3:DTDTC; serum 10 ; 11
Latvia2010542:50.0-58.9SPPRI, STR; dried blood spots, serum14 ; 15 ; 16
Lithuania2006775:70.3–89.7DTLTS, HTC; serum, dried blood spots5 ; 8 ; 99
Luxembourg200553671.8–90.7:SPDTC, NSP, LTS, STI, ANT, OHC, PRI; serum6
Hungary2009-10120724.47.9 - 51.4SP ; DTNSP, DTC, PRI ; dried blood spots, serum19 ; 20a ; 20b ; 23
Malta201010236.3:DTPHL, STI, ANT, OHC; serum5 ; 7 ; 8
Netherlands201064:47.6 - 67.4SP ; DTDTC; serum34 ; 35 ; 36
Austria2010112743.4-65.337.9-73.0DTDTC, LTS, ODD, NSP; serum2 ; 5 ; 12 , 13 ; 14
Poland2009184:44.3 - 72.4SPLTS; serum12
Portugal2009-10543236.5-83.1:DT ; SPDTC ; serum, dried blood spots29 ; 30 ; 31
Romania2009449:82.9SP (UAT)STR; dried blood spots7
Slovenia201026521.5:DTDTC; serum5 ; 9
Slovakia201062:40.3SPDTC; serum12 ; 14
Finland200968260.5:SP (UAT)NSP; saliva6 ; 8
Sweden2009159:59.7DTPRI; serum13
United Kingdom2009-103288:26.1 - 61.2SP (UAT)DTC, NSP, LTS; dried blood spots,saliva51 ; 53 ; 56 ; 65
Croatia2007-0879144.027.1 - 65.0SPPRI, DTC, NSP, LTS, PHL, HTC; serum1
Turkey2008168:5.3SPOTH; serum2
Norway2010439769.966.9SPNSP, LTS; serum16 ; 21 ; 23 ; 25
 

Notes:

This summary table gives a global overview of the prevalence of HCV antibody in IDUs in the EU, 2010 or most recent year available. Data for more than one year are combined if they clearly improve generalisability (e.g. national data, out-of-treatment data). Prevalence in this table should not be compared with previous versions to follow changes over time, as inclusion of sources may vary according to data availability. For time trends see Tables Table INF-111, INF-112 and INF-113.

(1) The figures show estimates (or range of estimates) from National and/or sub-national level samples.

(2) Saliva tests for hepatitis C antibodies underestimate prevalence. If test sensitivity is known then figures can be adjusted upwards by dividing prevalence by test sensitivity. Test sensitivity is around 70–90 % in older studies and may be up to 90-95% in some recent studies. Figures have not been adjusted.

DT: Diagnostic testing; SP: Seroprevalence study; SP-UAT: Seroprevalence study with unlinked anonymous testing; RDS: Respondent-driven sampling; SR: Data (partly) based on self reported test results.

(3) Having health problems is one selection criterion for admission to drug treatment in some countries or cities, due to long waiting lists or special programmes for infected IDUs, and this may result in upward bias of prevalence. Prevalence from treatment data should therefore be interpreted in combination with non-treatment data.

(4) § IDUnk = IDU status not known, prevalence in IDUs is likely to be underestimated.

(5) ODD = Overdose Deaths; DEM = Drug Emergencies; DTC = Drug Treatment Centres; NSP = Needle Exchanges; LTS = Low-Threshold Services; PHL = Public Health Laboratories; STI = STI Clinics; ANT = Antenatal Clinics; OHC = Other Hospital or Clinics; PRI = Prisons; ARR = Arrests; GPS = General Practitioners; HTC = HIV Testing Centres; STR = Street; OTH = Other.

Sources:

See Table INF-111.

For references see Table INF-0. Bibliographic References-Part A: References for prevalence data

Page last updated: Monday, 09 July 2012