| title: | STUDY ON INJECTING DRUG USERS NEEDLES AND SYRINGES: DETECTION OF MARKERS OF HBV, HCV and HIV INFECTIONS |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5526 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
3. Medical Sciences |
| status: | completed |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Medicine |
| head of project: | Anneli Uusküla |
| duration: | 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2004 |
| description: | Study is DESIGNED to 1) assess the acceptability and feasibility of testing residual material from used syringes/needles, as a screening strategy for infectious diseases among IDUs in Tallinn, 2) with the secondary aim of detecting the prevalence of HIV, HCV and HBV infections in used needles/syringes, and estimate the population prevalence of these infections METHODS: A cross-sectional study, prevalence study Sample size and study objects 1. 250 IDUs participating anonymously assuming fictitious code names. A short drug- and sex-related risk survey will be self-administered while returning used syringes to consenting participants 2. 400 used, returned syringes/needles to the NEP Each needle/syringe distributed will be numbered (prelabeled). Laboratory testing will be performed in West-Tallinn Central hospital centrum for infectious diseases HIV/AIDS reference laboratory: experienced in work with potentially infectious materials. The presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV, HBV in collected specimens (residual material from used syringes/needles) will be detected by EIA. RESULTS According to the stated goals of the study we will assess the value of needle/syringe testing for HCV, HBV, and HIV as a marker of these infections among IDU population in Estonia. It is extremely important develope nonintrusive testing methodologies for ongoing disease surveillance, programs, interventions and evaluation of projects. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Robert Heimer | Yale University, USA | ass. professor | |
| 2. | Mihhail Moroz | AIDS Support Center | project manager | |
| 3. | Valentina Ustina | West-Tallinn Central hospital center for infectiou | chief of laboratory | |
| 4. | Anneli Uusküla | TU Faculty of Medicine | Researcher | |