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Enhancing Hepatitis Delta Diagnosis in Southern Spain: Efficacy and Economic Evaluation of Double Reflex Testing
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  • Ana Fuentes,
  • Matías Estévez-Escobar,
  • Adolfo de Salazar,
  • Elena Ruiz Escolano,
  • Natalia Montiel,
  • Manuel Macías,
  • Juan Carlos Alados,
  • Juan Cristóbal Aguilar,
  • Ana Belén Perez-Jimenez,
  • Pilar Barrera-Baena,
  • Teresa Cabezas,
  • Anny Camelo-Castillo,
  • Begoña Palop,
  • Rocío González-Grande,
  • Isabel Viciana,
  • José Pinazo-Bandera M,
  • Fernando Fernández-Sánchez,
  • María Del Carmen Lozano,
  • Álvaro Giráldez,
  • Domínguez Carmen,
  • Carlota Jimeno-Maté,
  • Encarnación Ramirez-Arellano,
  • Patricia Cordero,
  • Francisco Franco Álvarez De Luna,
  • Pilar del Pino,
  • Alberto De La Iglesia-Salgado,
  • Domingo Pérez,
  • Antonio Sampedro,
  • Ángeles López-Garrido M,
  • Pilar Luzón,
  • Joaquín Salas,
  • Carolina Roldán,
  • Fernando García,
  • Carolina Freyre-Carrillo,
  • Germán Santamaría Rodríguez,
  • José Miguel Rosales-Zabal,
  • Raquel Domínguez-Hernández,
  • Marta Casado,
  • Federico Garcia
Ana Fuentes
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio
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Matías Estévez-Escobar
Hospital Universitario Torrecardenas
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Adolfo de Salazar
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio
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Elena Ruiz Escolano
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio
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Natalia Montiel
Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar
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Manuel Macías
Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar
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Juan Carlos Alados
Hospital Universitario de Jerez de la Frontera
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Juan Cristóbal Aguilar
Hospital Universitario de Jerez de la Frontera
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Ana Belén Perez-Jimenez
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia
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Pilar Barrera-Baena
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia
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Teresa Cabezas
Hospital Universitario Torrecardenas
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Anny Camelo-Castillo
Hospital Universitario Torrecardenas
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Begoña Palop
Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga
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Rocío González-Grande
Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga
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Isabel Viciana
Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria
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José Pinazo-Bandera M
Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria
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Fernando Fernández-Sánchez
Hospital Costa del Sol
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María Del Carmen Lozano
Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio
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Álvaro Giráldez
Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio
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Domínguez Carmen
Hospital Universitario de Valme
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Carlota Jimeno-Maté
Hospital Universitario de Valme
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Encarnación Ramirez-Arellano
Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena
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Patricia Cordero
Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena
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Francisco Franco Álvarez De Luna
Hospital Universitario Juan Ramon Jimenez
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Pilar del Pino
Hospital Universitario Juan Ramon Jimenez
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Alberto De La Iglesia-Salgado
Hospital Infanta Elena
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Domingo Pérez
Hospital Infanta Elena
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Antonio Sampedro
Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
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Ángeles López-Garrido M
Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
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Pilar Luzón
Hospital de Poniente de Almeria
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Joaquín Salas
Hospital de Poniente de Almeria
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Carolina Roldán
Hospital Universiario de Jaen
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Fernando García
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio
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Carolina Freyre-Carrillo
Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real
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Germán Santamaría Rodríguez
Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real
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José Miguel Rosales-Zabal
Hospital Costa del Sol
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Raquel Domínguez-Hernández
Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Iberia
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Marta Casado
Hospital Universitario Torrecardenas
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Federico Garcia
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Background & Aim: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed hepatitis delta in southern Spain (Andalusia) and assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of implementing reflex testing for hepatitis D detection in HBsAg-positive patients. Patient & Methods: A multicenter ambispective study was conducted in 17 hospitals in Andalusia. The retrospective phase analyzed diagnostic processes for hepatitis delta from January 2018 to June 2022, focusing on HBsAg-positive patients. The prospective phase, from October 2022 to March 2023, implemented reflex testing, performing anti-HDV serology on all HBsAg-positive patients without prior testing. HDV RNA testing was conducted on those who tested positive for anti-HDV. Results: In the retrospective phase, out of 18,583 HBsAg-positive patients, anti-HDV tests were performed on 3,436 (18%), identifying 205 (6%) positive cases. HDV RNA was tested in 158 (77%) anti-HDV-positive patients, with 69 (44%) testing positive. In the prospective phase, out of 2,384 HBsAg-positive patients without prior anti-HDV testing, 2,293 (96%) were tested, identifying 109 (4.7%) positive cases. HDV RNA was analyzed in 97 (89%) anti-HDV-positive patients, with 30 (31%) testing positive. Reflex testing increased anti-HDV detection by 77%, resulting in a fourfold increase in detecting anti-HDV-positive patients and a threefold increase in detecting HDV RNA-positive patients, reducing undiagnosed HDV RNA-positive cases to 4% compared to 45% with clinical practice. Cost analysis indicated a saving of €265,954 with reflex testing. Discussion: Reflex testing significantly improves HDV detection and reduces healthcare costs. It simplifies the diagnostic process, increasing the detection rate of hidden chronic hepatitis delta patients and proving to be an efficient strategy for managing chronic hepatitis B patients.