A&E blood test saves life
A simple opt-out blood test helped to spot Kenneth’s* liver cancer after tests confirmed he was positive for hepatitis C.
Kenneth was taken by ambulance to The Royal London Hospital and was diagnosed as having suffered a brain haemorrhage. He spent a further three weeks at The Royal London, undergoing treatment.
The testing means patients aged 16 and over who have blood taken when they attend A&E are automatically tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C, unless they choose to opt out.
As part of Kenneth's usual blood testing, his blood was also tested for blood borne viruses. Results showed he had hepatitis C and indicated Kenneth had had the virus for quite some time without knowing.
As a precaution, Kenneth was sent for an MRI on his liver due to the cancer risks that hepatitis C carries. The MRI showed Kenneth had a tumour at the back of his liver. Thankfully, because the cancer was caught early, surgeons were able to remove the cancer via keyhole surgery.
Speaking about his the testing, Kenneth said:
To discover that I had been living with undiagnosed hepatitis C for many years was quite a shock, but to also find out I had cancer was much more difficult to deal with. Despite the treatments available, I couldn't help but sometimes think that the cancer would have killed me. Had I not had the test, and the cancer detected early, that was very possible.
Thankfully, everything moved very quickly and the care I received was amazing.
Isobel Newton, lead nurse for A&E Blood Borne Virus Testing, said:
Opt out testing has been crucial in identifying blood borne viruses in people who would otherwise not access testing, reducing transmission and improving health outcomes. By making this test routine, we are also helping to reduce the stigma around these viruses.
Blood borne viruses are primarily transmitted through contact with infected body fluids from another person with the virus. The opt-out blood borne virus (BBV) testing has been rolled out across A&Es as part of a wider plan around early diagnosis and treatment for blood borne diseases.
Kenneth is one of 170,759 people who were tested via the BBV testing service at Barts Health A&Es in 2024. During that time, more than 300 people tested positive for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Newham Hospital A&E accounted for more than half of the diagnoses across the Trust and is one of the best performing BBV services in the country for diagnosing and engaging people into care.
Everyone who tests positive for a blood borne disease is offered specialist support and a treatment plan to help them manage their condition.
Kenneth is now living cancer-free and enjoying being back at home.