LaboHep National Survey: Background, Methodology, Objectives, and Surveillance Tools
Background
The LaboHep survey on hepatitis B and C screening has been conducted every three years since 2010 among a random sample of clinical laboratories.
Objective
The objective of this national survey, conducted among a random sample of laboratories, is to estimate the number of anti-HCV and HBsAg serology tests performed annually across France and by region, and to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of individuals diagnosed as anti-HCV and HBsAg positive.
Method
This retrospective cross-sectional survey has been conducted in France every three years since 2010 using a sample of clinical laboratories (LABM) randomly selected from a sampling frame comprising all laboratories (public and private).
Indicators are estimated from the random sample for all laboratories in France, taking into account the sampling plan and performing post-stratification weighting based on the activity of all French laboratories.
Indicators
Overall serological activity: number of specimens for HBsAg serology regardless of the indication Number of HCV or HBsAg tests confirmed positive for the first time: number of specimens for HBsAg screening/confirmation that tested positive for the first time in the laboratory.Positivity rate (or control indicator) (ICP): ratio of the number of confirmed positive tests to overall serological activity.
