Published at 13:17, Tuesday, 01 February 2011

TWO south Cumbrian pharmacies are offering blood tests for hepatitis B and C.

The test, which is a finger prick, dry blood spot test, is open to anyone at participating venues in Barrow and Ulverston.

The samples are then sent away to a lab for testing.

At-risk patients will also be offered special counselling before and after the test as part of the new pilot scheme, being run in conjunction with NHS Cumbria and the Hepatitis C Trust.

The test will be available at JN Murray in Middlefield, Ormsgill, and Market Place, Ulverston.

The pharmacies involved in the trial already work with people who could be at risk of having or catching hepatitis C and B due to injecting drug use and also offer services such as needle exchange, methadone pick-up and/or supervised consumption services.

Andrea Loudon, head of Medicines Management at NHS Cumbria, said: “This is the first time that testing for both hepatitis C and hepatitis B has been offered in pharmacies out in the community.

“Often, people who may be at risk of contracting or getting hepatitis may feel uncomfortable going to their GP or a clinic for testing.

“As often, people who are at serious risk of having hepatitis are injecting drug users, they may already be in regular contact with their local pharmacist for methadone pick up or needle exchange.

“By offering this testing in the same location it’s another way that we can help these vulnerable people by offering them a test in the place with people they are already familiar with. If this pilot proves successful we will aim to roll out to more pharmacies, where appropriate.”

Charles Gore, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: “This service really can mean the difference between life and death. too many people are developing life-threatening liver disease because they are being diagnosed too late. Hepatitis is a solvable problem in the UK, we just need to make sure those who have it are tested and diagnosed. Offering testing in community pharmacies has been proven to do this very effectively.”

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus – and is 100 times more infectious than HIV.

It is passed from person to person via bodily fluids usually through unprotected sex, by the sharing of needles in drug use or by infected mothers during childbirth.

Often, people may not know they are infected with hepatitis B as the symptoms are similar to flu – headaches, aches and pains, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhoea and jaundice.

Hepatitis C is a virus in the blood which causes an infection of the liver. It can cause swelling and liver scarring.

If left untreated it can develop into more serious conditions such as liver cancer.

Published by nwemail.co.uk