Sunday, May 21, 2006
Open Letter to the CDC about Hepatitis C (HCV) testing:
May 21, 2006
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Inquiries/MASO
Mailstop E11
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Re: Widespread testing for Hepatitis C, (HCV)
Greetings:
As a long-time activist, freelance journalist and community volunteer, I fully support your call for widespread HIV testing. In fact, I don’t think it goes far enough. HIV testing should be as automatic as any other type of diagnostic. The more routine the less the stigma. Still, I applaud you for making this move.
But HCV is even more widespread than HIV, as you folks well know. I believe HCV testing should be as routine as HIV testing, if not more so.
But with both, counseling both before and after are integral in helping people get through the process. Many hospitals and clinics are dropping the counseling component due to cost and time constraints. If the federal government does not provide the resources for the entire process we do people a terrible disfavor.
Your goals are admirable, but HCV testing should be an additional component to HIV testing and routine diagnostic procedures. I hope you will consider this in future policy decisions.
Until then, keep up the good work!
Sincerely, Phillip T. Alden
May 21, 2006
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Inquiries/MASO
Mailstop E11
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Re: Widespread testing for Hepatitis C, (HCV)
Greetings:
As a long-time activist, freelance journalist and community volunteer, I fully support your call for widespread HIV testing. In fact, I don’t think it goes far enough. HIV testing should be as automatic as any other type of diagnostic. The more routine the less the stigma. Still, I applaud you for making this move.
But HCV is even more widespread than HIV, as you folks well know. I believe HCV testing should be as routine as HIV testing, if not more so.
But with both, counseling both before and after are integral in helping people get through the process. Many hospitals and clinics are dropping the counseling component due to cost and time constraints. If the federal government does not provide the resources for the entire process we do people a terrible disfavor.
Your goals are admirable, but HCV testing should be an additional component to HIV testing and routine diagnostic procedures. I hope you will consider this in future policy decisions.
Until then, keep up the good work!
Sincerely, Phillip T. Alden
# posted by Phillip T. Alden @ 11:30 AM 
