ABSTRACT Background and Aims Despite the widespread availability of effective antiviral therapies, progress toward the global elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been slower than anticipated, highlighting the necessity for more effective screening and confirmation processes. This study quantitatively evaluated the effectiveness of a targeted, timeline‐aware alert system for HCV surveillance in a tertiary‐care hospital. Methods This single‐centre observational study evaluated a prospectively implemented diagnostic recommendation system. From June to November 2025, attending physicians received targeted recommendations for HCV RNA testing when patients had positive HCV antibody results, no prior confirmed RNA negativity, and no RNA testing performed ≥ 2 weeks following antibody testing. Outcomes were compared with those of a historical cohort from the corresponding period in 2024. The primary outcome was completion of HCV RNA testing within 90 days of antibody positivity. Results During the study period, 13 425 HCV antibody tests were performed, of which 239 (1.8%) tested positive. One hundred eleven patients had no prior history of HCV RNA testing, and alerts were issued to 82 patients who did not undergo HCV RNA testing within 2 weeks. Among them, 34 patients (41.5%) underwent HCV RNA testing within 90 days, which identified five active infections. In contrast, only 10 of 89 patients (11.2%) meeting the same eligibility criteria in the 2024 historical cohort completed RNA testing ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Targeted recommendations that account for clinical timelines significantly improve the opportunities for HCV RNA testing in a real‐world hospital setting. Timeline‐aware diagnostic support may help reduce missed diagnostic opportunities and accelerate the progress toward HCV elimination.
Okushin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.