Viapath participate in national ‘Going Viral’ Campaign
Our St. Thomas’ site are one of 10 hospitals in the UK taking part in a new national campaign ‘Going Viral’, whereby every patient who passes through the Emergency Department requiring a blood test is also offered a screen for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
The London Borough of Lambeth, in which St. Thomas’ Hospital sits, has the highest HIV rate in the UK with 14.4 people in every 1,000 having the disease. The neighbouring borough of Southwark also has high infection rates, so this really is a worthwhile initiative.
St. Thomas’ Hospital is one of the four hospital sites we provide pathology services to. Our on-site Infection Sciences Department will be carrying out these extra screens on blood samples received from the Emergency Department this week.
This campaign, founded by Barts Health NHS Foundation Trust, runs from 13th – 20th October. Going Viral is unique in that previous campaigns of this type have either focused on HIV, Hep B or Hep C. Screening Emergency Department patients for all three viruses at once has never been done before.
It is thought that one in five people with HIV aren’t aware that they are infected, Hepatitis B and C also present few symptoms to many patients infected. One blood sample can test for all three viruses.
As with many diseases, early diagnosis is critical to effective treatments and improved outcomes for patients. Advancements in treatments mean that many people suffering with these viruses can expect to live as long as those without it.
We would encourage any and all patients passing through the Emergency Department at St. Thomas’ Hospital and other hospitals taking part, to take advantage of this offer and get tested.
Further Information
Viapath at St. Thomas’ Hospital
