This week is World Hepatitis Testing Week (17th – 24th November), and we are happy to share an update on the pioneering opt-out Blood Borne Virus (BBV) testing pilot in primary care, commissioned by the NHS England National Viral Hepatitis Elimination Programme.

The programme’s mission is to raise awareness, address stigma, and dramatically improve access to Bloodborne Virus testing and treatment for marginalised populations through a collaborative and sustainable approach within primary care.

The Project has been successful due to collaboration with two practices situated in areas of high deprivation: a specialist homeless practice (Health E1 in North East London) and a non-specialist practice (Brigstock Medical Practice in South West London). The learning from these settings is already proving invaluable to national scaling efforts.

Phase I success: Integrated testing and holistic care at Health E1

The first phase at Health E1, a specialist homeless practice, successfully delivered an integrated BBV testing and health screening service via a drop-in, lower barrier, lived-experience-led clinic. In addition to BBV testing, the service provided harm minimisation interventions, wound care, liver health & sexual health screening, and crucial peer support, including active outreach to street populations.

Phase II success: Brigstock pilot drives systemic change

The second pilot, launched at Brigstock Medical Practice in South West London (SWL) on 14 July 2025, represented a significant scale-up. This pilot offers universal opt-out BBV testing for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C to all registered patients over the age of 18, directly building on the national success of the Emergency Department (A&E) opt-out programme.

The results from the Brigstock pilot over a period of three months demonstrate the model’s high effectiveness in a general primary care setting. This proves that this proactive, inclusive approach is a vital tool for reaching those excluded from traditional testing programmes.

Project impact: A success story for Testing Week

The initial findings of the SWL pilot confirm that bringing opt-out testing into primary care is a viable, impactful, and equitable method for improving access to BBV testing and care and improving health outcomes. It is perfectly aligned with the goals of World Hepatitis Testing Week:

Over 3 months:

Over three months, the pilot has tested over 1,500 patients, and has successfully identified 0.97% patients with a positive BBV test (HIV, HCV, HBV), with a small number needing ongoing assessment and treatment.

“The BBV pilot at Brigstock Medical Practice has made it easier for people to find out their status in an approachable manner and get access to care early. Testing for HBV is vital because of its asymptomatic nature; early diagnosis will allow monitoring, treatment and prevention.”
Supa Chantschool, CEO and Co-founder of Hep B Companion

Looking ahead: Informing national strategy

The achievement of this pilot highlights the power of collaborative and integrated healthcare, made possible with support from local specialist clinical teams, partnered peer-advocacy organisations, including The Hepatitis C Trust, Hepatitis B Companion, METRO Charity, SWL ICB and funding from Gilead Sciences.

A full evaluation will be carried out at the end of the project in 2026. The vital learning gained from both Health E1, and Brigstock Medical Practice will be invaluable in understanding the operational requirements, ROI, patient acceptance for scaling up opt-out BBV testing and the long-term management of BBVs in primary care across England. This is a critical step towards meeting our national elimination targets.