Background
hepatitis C, MSM, HCV infection
VIRUS, HEPATITIS C
An estimated 58 million people were living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide in 2019 [MSM in China include individuals at higher risk of HCV among men living with HIV as well as lower risk populations. Clusters of HCV infection have been reported among MSM living with HIV and the prevalence of HCV among MSM with HIV is 6.3% (95% CI: 5.3 to 7.5%), and these individuals are at greater risk for HCV infection [Evidence and experiences from a large body of self-testing programmes for HIV [We designed two parallel randomized controlled trials (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of HCV self-testing to increase testing among MSM in China compared to standard-of-care: one in a low-risk HCV group (HIV-negative MSM) (trial 1) and one in a high-risk HCV group (MSM living with HIV) (trial 2).