Routine HIV and hepatitis C testing in the MFT Emergency Departments

• HIV and hepatitis C are viruses carried in the blood.
• Many people with these viruses have no symptoms and are unaware of carrying them. Knowing you have (or do not have) HIV or hepatitis C means that you can protect yourself and others.

• Late diagnosis of HIV reduces life expectancy by around 15 years and causes significant ill-health.
• Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

• It is possible to pass these viruses to others through sex, or contact with infected blood, (e.g. sharing needles).
• Taking treatment regularly eliminates the risk of passing the viruses onto others.

HIV can be managed with daily tablets. If diagnosed early enough, people with HIV can live a long and healthy life.

• The only way to know is to get a specific blood test, which is not usually included in blood tests done by your GP.

If you have a reactive result (provisional positive), we will contact you to arrange an appointment and discuss the next steps.

If you do not hear from us within 28 days, you can assume that your HIV and hepatitis C test was negative. However, please note that there is a possibility that your blood sample was not sent to the Virology Laboratory and that for this reason it could not be tested.

You can now use the MyMFT app to check all your results. HIV and hepatitis C results should be visible on the My MFT app within 28 days from sample collection.

If you think you had a test but can’t see a result on the MyMFT app, it is possible that your blood sample was not sent to the Virology Laboratory.

You can contact us to access another test on the numbers below:

• • Manchester Royal Infirmary: thenorthernISH.enquiries@mft.nhs.uk
  • Wythenshawe Hospital: thenorthernISH.enquiries@mft.nhs.uk
  • North Manchester General Hospital: hiv.teamNMGH@mft.nhs.uk –  0161 720 2637/ 2638

• It can take 6-12 weeks for HIV and up to 6 months for hepatitis C to be detectable on a blood test after you have been infected.

If you have been at recent risk, you can get another test through your GP or local sexual health service