Hepatitis C virus screening for pregnant patients increased over time, but substantial gaps persist in follow-up testing, linkage to care, and infant screening.
There is an urgent need to strengthen peripartum HCV care pathways due to persistent gaps in screening, follow-up, and linkage to care for pregnant patients and infants.
Despite increasing screening over time, substantial gaps persist in HCV screening, follow-up testing, and linkage to care for pregnant patients and their infants. High loss to follow-up and low infant screening rates highlight the urgent need to strengthen peripartum HCV care pathways to support maternal and pediatric cure and advance HCV elimination goals.
Betancourt et al. (2026) studied this question. Hepatitis C virus screening for pregnant patients increased over time, but substantial gaps persist in follow-up testing, linkage to care, and infant screening.