Resumen
Objectives: To assess acceptability and feasibility of rapid HIV and HCV tests in Harm Reduction
Programmes (HRP) of Catalonia. To describe the percentage of intravenous drug users (IDU) with a
reactive test who would attend hospital for test confirmation and follow up. Methods: Rapid oral
test for HCV and HIV were offered to users of 13 HRP (5 street or mobile units, 6 fixed units and 2
mixed). Epidemiological data was collected and test performed and their results were monitored.
Period study was between April and December of 2011. A short questionnaire was administered
to staff at the end of the study period. Results: 172 HCV and 198 HIV tests were performed, with
a percentage of rejection of 1.7% and 10.4% respectively. 29.4% were exclusively IDU, 35.5% were
IDU and drug consumers in other ways and 35% weren't IDU. Global percentage of HCV reactive
tests was 20.3% (11.3% in fixed HRP, 44.8% in mobile HRP and 32.1% in fixed centres with a mobile
unit). Global percentage of HIV reactive tests was 2.5% (0.8% in fixed HRP, 4.3% in mobile HRP and
6.1 in fixed HRP with a mobile unit). From the 35 reactive HCV cases only 24 could be confirmed
(68.6%), with 1 case of false negative. From the 5 HIV reactive cases only 2 could be confirmed
(40%) with 1 false positive case. 100% of the staff found test performance and interpretation of
the results easy or very easy and trusted the test result. Conclusions: Acceptability of rapid HIV and
HCV tests among HRP users was high. 24 HCV and 2 HIV cases were confirmed, with the highest
percentage in mobile HRP. Usefulness of oral rapid tests in HRP was shown, especially in mobile
HRP, wherein full blood tests are almost impossible to be carried out