• Debbie Y Mohammed, Eugene Martin, Charlotte Sadashige, Michael Jaker, and Sindy Paul.
• St Michael's Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, 111 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ 07101, United States; UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Medicine, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, United States. Electronic address: mohammdy@umdnj.edu.
• J. Clin. Virol. 2013 Dec 1;58 Suppl 1:e19-23.

BackgroundIn 2002, the sero-prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) in the Emergency Department (ED), University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey was 10.4%. Both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are transmitted by injection drug use (IDU) or sexual contact. However, the degree of concurrent positive HCV antibody status in HIV-infected ED patients is unknown.ObjectivesIn this study we determined the sero-prevalence of HIV and HIVHCV in HIV-positive patients in the ED.Study DesignA cross-sectional study using an anonymous sero-prevalence survey was conducted from 7/1/2008 to 8/23/2008. Medical records were reviewed and de-identified; remnant blood specimens were also de-identified and tested for HIV antibody, and if positive, HCV antibody.ResultsOf 3488 specimens, 225 (6.5%, 95% CI: 5.7-7.3%) were positive for HIV antibody. Seventy-four patients 74/225 (32.9%, 95% CI: 33.8-46.5%) were unaware of their sero-positivity. Forty percent of HIV positive patients (90/225, 95% CI: 33.8-46.5%) were HCV antibody positive. The highest seroprevalence of HIVHCV antibody was among older patients (≥ 45 years), and patients with positive urine toxicology and elevated liver function tests.DiscussionGiven the high prevalence of HIV and HIVHCV antibody in the ED, routine testing is important for patients ≥ 45 years with positive urine toxicology and elevated liver function tests.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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